Lauderdale School's Library To Get Oprah Inspired Makeover
FT. LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - A deserving Ft. Lauderdale elementary school will be getting a much needed makeover to its library this summer in honor of Oprah Winfrey.
Earlier this year The Heart of American Foundation, which teamed up with Target, announced they would be making over 25 elementary school libraries in honor of Oprah's 25 years of service and inspiration. Recently school officials at Lauderdale Manors Elementary learned that they were one of the schools chosen.
"It's plain white, and I don't really like white," explained 3rd grader Mandy Samaroo about her school library.
"It's kind of small," said classmate Mandel Vicamar. Each of them, along with the rest of their classmates drew pictures of how they want to see their new library.
"I like all different colors," said Samaroo. "Orange and blue and red and purple. The way that I pictured it is a beautiful new library where kids can learn."
Over the summer the school's Media Center will receive a fresh coat of paint, art work designed by a Disney artist, new floor coverings, shelving, furniture and computers for student and parent use. The school center will also receive 2,000 new books for its library collection.
When the library reopens this fall, each child will receive 7 books to take home and additional books for siblings. During the next school year, families will also be receiving 30-35 pounds of food each month through the Target Meals for Minds program. "If you had to say on a scale of one to 10 how excited you are about getting a new library," CBS 4's Ted Scouten asked Vixamar. He said, "Well, I can't say one to ten, probably one to one million!"
Aside from the books and make over, the school will also get thousands of dollars in new computers. Principal Donna McCann is also hoping to renovate an old storage room in the library, making it into a parent's resource center.
"We want this to be a hub not only for the school, but for the community," McCann explained. "I want this to be a place where the parents feel comfortable coming in to."
Renovations should be complete by Nov. 4.
