Fairfield Library Secures $20K Grant to Boost Early Literacy for Preschoolers

In a happy turn of events for families with tiny tots, Fairfield Public Library’s Children’s Department just landed a $20,000 grant from the Harmon Family Foundation. The money will fuel the library’s beloved “Books ’n’ Bears” outreach, a simple‑yet‑effective idea: give every preschool‑age child a storybook paired with a soft, snuggly bear.

“When a little one holds a book and a bear at the same time, reading feels cozy, friendly, and—most importantly—fun,” said Tamara Lyhne, the library’s head of children’s services. Lyhne and her team will be handing out the packages at local preschools, day‑care centers, and during a special gathering tied to the library’s Winter Reading Challenge.

The grant doesn’t just buy paper and plush; it opens doors. “Providing books at an early age creates equitable opportunities for a lifelong love of reading,” Lyhne added. “And the bears? They’re a little piece of comfort, a reminder that reading can be a warm, nurturing experience right from the start.”

The “Books ’n’ Bears” concept isn’t new to the Harmons. James Harmon, who has called Fairfield County home for more than six decades, founded the Harmon Family Foundation in 1986 to honor his father, Bert Harmon. Bert, a former volunteer at the Broward County Public Library in Florida, originally dreamed up the program and helped launch the Broward Public Library Foundation.

Now, that same spirit of early‑childhood literacy is being carried to Connecticut. By distributing books and bears, the library hopes to draw families into its doors for additional resources—storytimes, parent workshops, and the ever‑useful quiet corners where imagination can roam.

Local businesses, like Sterling Marine Dock Builders, have already shown support, and community members are encouraged to keep an eye out for upcoming “Books ’n’ Bears” events. For a full schedule of children’s programs and to learn more about how to get involved, visit fairfieldpubliclibrary.org/children.