U-46 superintendent issues Library Card Challenge

Elgin Area School District U-46 Superintendent Jose Torres has a strong belief in the importance of reading and using the library.

He can be found in classrooms all across the district, at all grade levels, sharing this message and reading with students.

Last year, he issued a challenge to all the elementary schools, encouraging students to sign up for their library cards. The Library Card Challenge resulted in a dramatic increase in the traffic at local libraries. They reported 8,000 new library cards issued.

Sycamore Trails Elementary School won the challenge when they demonstrated that 100 percent of their 525 students held current library cards.

This year, he has challenged the high schools - 100 percent library card ownership in all U-46 high schools by the end of February. As a bonus, each school will receive a state-of-the-art laptop computer and two iPod Nanos as prizes. Students with library cards can win by entering their names in a drawing. The laptops were donated by Victorin Business Systems and the iPods by the U-46 Educational Foundation.

"I stress the importance of reading every chance I get," Torres said. "Students need to understand that reading provides the opportunity to visit exotic locations, be part of great adventures, and learn how others live - it is the key to future successes."