Family Focus

Home Delivery

West Bloomfield Library serves
seniors at their doorstep.

Mary Killian
Special to the Jewish News

F

or Roslyn Garfinkel, having a
ready supply of great books to
read is simple. The 82-year-
old resident at the Lillian and Samuel
Hechtman Jewish Apartments in West
Bloomfield just calls the outreach librar-
ian at the West Bloomfield Township
Public Library and requests the titles she
wants.
"The library brings the books right to
Hechtman. It's a wonderful service says
Garfinkel.
The avid reader currently has four
books checked out and she just finished
the international bestseller The Girl
Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson.
The final book in Larsson's millennium
trilogy was released in the U.S. late last
month, and Garfinkel plans on reading it
next.
"The library visits Hechtman every
month, so I always have books on hand,"
said Garfinkel.
The West Bloomfield Library visits

10 senior living facilities, includ-
ing the Fleischman Residence, Meer
Apartments, Danto Health Care Center
as well as Hechtman Apartments.
Residents check out books, audio-
books, DVDs, and magazines. Large-
print books are especially popular.
Garfinkel, who used to coordinate
the book club held at Hechtman, says
many residents regularly check out a
dozen or more books each time the
librarian visits. One woman who is
blind checks out 15-20 audiobooks a
month. "She can't read or watch televi-
sion so her entertainment is listening
to books:' said Garfinkel. "I know oth-
ers who do that, too."
"We want every resident in West
Bloomfield to have access to library
materials," said Library board trustee
Judith Holtz. "For those with limited
mobility or for anyone who is home-
bound, the outreach service is the great
solution."
In addition, providing materials to
read, listen to or watch helps keep resi-
dents' minds active and engaged. "That's

DESIGNS IN DECORATOR WOOD & LAMINATES, LTD.

Roslyn Garfinkel uses the West Bloomfield

Township Library's book delivery program.

important no matter what our age," said
Holtz.
As part of its mission to support lifelong
learning, the West Bloomfield Library pro-
vides outreach services to preschools and
K-12 classrooms throughout the township.
Librarians introduce children and teens to
books that reinforce school curricula and
help students learn how to find and use
homework resources.

The library faces a crucial millage
renewal request on Aug. 3. The pro-
posal asks voters to renew the mill-
age approved in 1997 to expand and
operate the library's two facilities. The
.6586 mill represents 42 percent of the
library's revenue; without the renewal,
the library will need to cut $1.9 million
from its budget.
According to Holtz, this would dra-
matically decrease the number of mate-
rials the library can purchase, force the
library to reduce the number of hours
it is open and reduce or eliminate many
services. Holtz stressed that this is a
renewal only, not an increase.
Garfinkel can't imagine not having
the library's outreach service available.
"I heard about the service right after I
moved to Hechtman more than seven
years ago. I tried it and have used it ever
since." Di

Mary Killian is adult services coordinator for

the West Bloomfield Township Public Library.

Happy 80th Birthday

It Doesn't Have To Cost A fortune...OnlY Look Like it!

,410F10-„,

G

To us known as Dad or Papa

These words are the
essence of our dad:
Persistent Curious

Drug store
Jokester
Loving Playfu Serious
Builder
Furniture store
Humanitariart World traveler Swimmer
Sandwich's
Ace Bandages

Stationary rower and cyclist

All meats cooked well done

Bathrooms

Licorice must be red
Likes well coiffed hair, his
Jewish causes would not be the
same without his help and support
Dad can go into a discussion of politics
with a vengeance to defend the greater cause.
Dad has spread his ebullient light to all
with his sculptures.

Complete kitchen and bathroom remodeling as well as furniture

and installations including granite, wood and other materials.

Lois Haron Allied Member ASID 248.851.6989

62

June 24 • 2010

iN

You didn't think we were paying attention

You are so loved,

Michele & Kalman, Mitchel, Melissa & Howard, Marc & Sue
and his grandchildren, Erin, Kati, Abigail, Oliver and Lillian