Library Director Daphne Silchuk-Ashcraft (left) and Rotarian and volunteer Karla Demali (right) holding thank you cards from the kids at Orrville City Schools.Orrville Rotary Club and Public Library Partner to Boost Literacy in Local Schools
In a spirited show of community collaboration, the Orrville Rotary Club has teamed up with the Orrville Public Library to champion early literacy initiatives across Orrville City Schools. Through thoughtfully designed programs and generous support, students are gaining new opportunities to explore the joys of reading.
Each Tuesday at noon (during the winter months), the Orrville Rotary Club convenes in the public library’s community room—a setting that fosters both accessibility and partnership. By choosing the library as its meeting space, the club underscores its commitment to literacy and community-driven learning. Each year, the club proudly supports Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, donating hundreds of storybooks to children in the service area. This program sends age-appropriate books directly to young readers’ homes each month—a powerful way to instill a love for books from infancy.
The Orrville Public Library complements the Rotary’s efforts with its robust family-focused offerings—weekly Story Times, the StoryWalk® nature trail reading path, summer reading programs, and the distinctive “Red Riders Read” card initiative for seventh graders. These resources create a continuity from classroom to library to home, reinforcing reading as a lifelong journey. Parents and educators alike have praised the partnership. One seventh-grade teacher noted how the “Red Riders Read” card empowers students to use their library independently, while Rotary members shared their enthusiasm for being part of a movement that encourages reading from an early age.
In Orrville, reading is more than a pastime—it’s a bridge to opportunity and community. Through dedicated partnerships, the Rotary and public library are lighting the way for lifelong learners.