To honor International Literacy Day, marked annually on September 8, the Adult Education Division capped off a week of community-focused literacy outreach with its much-anticipated annual book fair, hosted at the division’s Kennedy Avenue office on Friday, September 11. The event opened its doors to readers of all ages, drawing dozens of local book enthusiasts to browse the curated collection of donated and sourced titles.
Carol White, head of the Adult Education Division, outlined the full scope of the division’s Literacy Day programming this year, explaining that department staff kicked off the week by visiting local primary and secondary schools across the region. During these school visits, team members led interactive reading activities, read aloud to young students, and hosted engaging literacy-focused games to spark a lifelong love of reading among children. Following these on-site community events, the annual book fair has become a longstanding tradition to close out the celebratory week.
White confirmed that this year’s gathering exceeded expectations, with strong community turnout and widespread support for the division’s literacy mission. Attendees left with hand-picked titles matching their personal interests, from childhood picture books to adult literary fiction.
The hundreds of books on display were sourced through a broad community partnership, with donations coming from multiple stakeholders including the local public library, individual city residents, and members of the national diaspora living overseas. Organizers structured the fair into clearly marked sections tailored to different audiences: dedicated zones for children, teens, and adult readers, alongside a separate section for educational resource materials. The diverse inventory spanned every genre, including storybooks, picture books, graphic novels, literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, religious texts, cookbooks, thriller novels, and a wide range of additional children’s reading materials.
Central to the division’s ongoing work, White emphasized, is a consistent push to highlight the transformative power of literacy for individuals and entire families. Beyond building knowledge and practical life skills, White noted that regular reading acts as a tool for personal growth, helping readers build confidence and self-esteem. In an era dominated by digital scrolling and screen time, White also framed reading as an accessible form of low-stress relaxation. “Instead of defaulting to television, phones or tablets after a long day, picking up a book from a beloved author offers a calm, fulfilling way to unwind,” she explained.
To keep the literacy initiative growing in coming years, White issued a public call for continued community support, encouraging local residents to donate gently used books to the division. These donations will allow more community members to access free reading materials and experience the personal and community benefits of a strong reading culture.