Bayside resident Dorothy Reisman celebrated her recent 94th birthday by meeting the Queens Library’s Mail-A-Book service staff members, whom she has come to think of as friends over the last few years.
Reisman was first introduced to the program in 2003 after having surgery and not being able to get around as easily. She then began taking advantage of the service.
Mail-A-Book is a free service offered by the Queens Library to homebound seniors, adults, young adults and children in the borough. Based out of the Queens Village Library, the program sends books, including hardcovers, paperbacks audio CDs or mp3s, to the individual.
When a person signs up, he or she can request specific titles, books in other languages or give subject or author preferences.
In addition, the program will also send CDs and DVDs.
As Reisman continued to make use of the program, it went beyond merely receiving books in the mail. She would send “words of encouragement” to the staff and would also get greetings, including holiday cards made by children after school, in the mail.
When it came time to celebrate her 94th birthday, Reisman told her family that she wanted to visit her “dear friends” from the program, although she had never met them previously.
That birthday wish came true on February 23 when she was surprised by the staff with a small party at the library. The celebration included a cake, flowers and some small gifts.
Anyone interested in signing up for the Queens Library’s Mail-A-Book program can contact the Queens Village Library at 718-776-6800. More information is also available at www.queenslibrary.org.
