Howland Public Library Transformed into Art Gallery for School/Community Project

Second graders from Beacon City School District are currently displaying their artwork at Howland Public Library as part of a cooperative Social Studies/Language Arts project. The second graders from South Avenue Elementary School had to visit and draw a building or scene from their community for the assignment. This is the 7th year the school has partnered with Howland Public Library as host to display the student's final projects. Ginny Figlia, the Youth Services Librarian at Howland also provides an opening reception for parents, teachers and administrators to hear the students reports and view their work. This project which is called "My Community" provides the students with the opportunity to learn about their neighborhood by taking a series of field trips to various sites in the city of Beacon. While visiting, the students conduct interviews and take photographs. This research is then used as a basis for their final projects to be displayed at the library. Since the library is considered a hub of the community it is an atmosphere that best suits a collection of student’s artwork encompassing the theme “My Community”.