The New Jersey Community Forestry Program would like
to invite you to join us for a partnership through Tree
Time.
What is Tree Time?
It is a library story-time about trees. Tree Time
allows children's libraries throughout the state to get a
wonderful collection of children's books about trees and nature.
Tree Time embraces the creativity found in story-time and
encourages activities to explore the forest ecosystem.
What parties are involved in the partnership?
As part of the Department of Environmental Protection,
the New Jersey Forest Service works hard to achieve its mission
to practice and promote sound stewardship and conservation
of public, private, and community forest lands, to monitor
and nurture forest health, to assist municipalities with the
development of their tree resources and to achieve forest
related economic, environmental and social benefits for current
and future generations. One goal of the Forest Service is
the growth of leadership and direction in developing high
quality, sustainable forestry programs at the community level.
We view community libraries as a source for global information
and our connection to the world. They are a powerhouse of
information designed to educate and to build bridges among
diverse individuals and cultures. Community libraries are
often the first to put a book in the hands of a child. Libraries
produce the information needed to live, learn, work, and
govern within our state, municipality, and home.
What are the benefits regarding this program?
The Community Forestry Program created Tree Time
for many reasons. The program focuses on the environment,
community, and education. We understand that many libraries
are up against tremendous odds due to budgetary limitations.
The program also recognizes many children are unaware of the
forest environment. This partnership will benefit each source.
The New Jersey Forest Service will provide a Tree Time kit
containing hardcover books about the forest environment, activity
books, and other supplementary materials. In return, the library's
responsibility is to help us meet the goal of forest education.
What are my responsibilities as a librarian?
The library must organize and perform two story-time
programs within one year of receiving the Tree Time kit and
promote education about the values and benefits of one of
our most valuable renewable resources - TREES. We also ask
the participating libraries to complete and mail their Tree-Time
Activity Reports to the Community Forestry Program. The reports
will help us document results, share success and ideas with
others, and focus on opportunities and areas of improvement
within the program.
For more information on becoming a Tree Time library please
call (609/292-2532) or email
Pam Tappen, Tree Time Coordinator.
