Sciria: Auburn library renovation, programs encourage love of reading (2025)

Christopher Sciria, special to The Citizen

It’s been a month since Auburn High School unveiled changes to its library, and so far, they’ve been well-received by students and staff. The renovated high school library is just one part of how the Auburn Enlarged City School District is encouraging students to read.

The biggest change was replacing the library’s old carpet with the installation of a new laminate floor. A bank of computers in front of the circulation desk was removed since students have their own laptops. New furniture, including comfortable seating, high-top tables, reading nooks and book displays, have been added to that area.

Auburn High School librarian Beth Cuddy said the new space has become popular with students during their study halls.

“I've had many teachers remark that the library looks more collegial now,” she said. “The students have responded positively to the changes. I heard a lot of ‘wows’ when we opened for study halls.”

Cuddy herself is pleased with how the renovation has turned out and said it’s a model for other libraries in the district. The changes show how vital the library is in each school building.

“It's brighter and more inviting. My hope is that these transformations will take place in all of the libraries in the district,” she said. “The junior high library especially needs a makeover. With the high school library's renovation, it sends the message that the library is an important part of the school community. That same message should be broadcast at all of the schools.”

The district’s libraries play an important part in the education process in helping students develop a joy for reading.

“That's a goal I'm working on this year,” Cuddy said. “One of my ideas is to have book kiosks on each floor of the high school where students can borrow or take a book. I'm planning on applying for an Auburn Education Foundation grant to fund this. There are some students, due to their schedules, who don't get the opportunity to visit the library, and this would be a way to get books into their hands.”

That goal of developing a joy of reading includes all parts of the district, starting with the elementary schools.

Genesee Elementary School students were able to participate in a summer reading challenge. Over the last few weeks of the school year, each student received a packet explaining they had to read 1,000 minutes and complete five mini-book reports. Parents had to sign a form that their child completed each task, which was turned in to Genesee librarian Victoria Calarco during the first week of school. Calarco said students who participated were entered into a raffle to win a Kindle Fire tablet, an Amazon gift card, bookmarks and two coins for the school’s book vending machine. The winners were sixth-grader Olivia Basile and second-grader Lorelei Sierra Fromel.

Another reading program that the district is excited about is the launch of a Book Buddies pilot program at Genesee Elementary School in partnership with the United Way of Cayuga County. This program may expand to the rest of the district’s elementary schools.

“Our vision is for this initiative to foster a love for reading by providing students with opportunities to engage with books outside of their regular classroom instruction,” said Dr. Renee Burgess, the district’s executive director for diversity, equity and inclusion, and instruction. “By pairing students with enthusiastic reading buddies, we hope to spark a similar excitement for reading in them. Through this positive interaction, we believe that students will develop a deeper appreciation of reading and writing.”

The buddies are community volunteers who will come into the school twice a month to read to a second-grade student.

“This is probably one of the highlights of what we get to do,” said United Way of Cayuga County Executive Director Kathryn Dennis. “To be able to get into schools and participate in the program directly, especially with children in our community, reading with them and talking to them and being a part of their lives, in a small way, is amazing.”