Published Monday, Feb. 16, 1998

At the Quinby Street Reading Center in Sharon, young sports enthusiasts look at a drawing of basketball star Michael Jordan in a magazine. ìrom left are Sharon residents Justin White, 8, Antonio Brooks, 8, and Calvin Norris, 9. (Jean Neice/Herald)

SHARON

`Quinby Street branch brings books to the neighborhood`

Quinby Street Library in Sharon contains 500 books and is housed in a room no bigger than an average school classrooom.

But that doesn't matter to its young patrons, ranging in age from preschool through high school, who use the library on a daily basis.

``It's fun,'' said Jeremy Barlow, a fourth-grader at Musser Elementary School, Sharon. ``I like to work on the computer and read nonfiction books and black history books. I can just be a kid.''

Fellow fourth-grader Monique Daniels shares Jeremy's enthusiasm. ``I read books, and I get books out for little kids. For the little girls who play house, I set up the area for them.''

Third-graders Ivena Gibbs and Brittany Csatlos also said they enjoy coming to the library. ``We play with the kids, and I like to read chapter books,'' Brittany said.

The library, a cooperative project of Shenango Valley Community Library, the Mercer County Housing Authority and Sharon School District, has been around since May 12. It is part of a larger community center on Quinby Street.

``When I first came in, I couldn't imagine it as a library,'' said Karen Spak, director of the Shenango Valley Community Library. ``But the school district supplied shelves and tables and many different groups of people donated books. It's pretty popular.''

In addition to books, the library also has educational games and puzzles and a computer.

``Most of the time the same kids come in,'' said Tracey Csatlos, Quinby Street Reading Center coordinator. She has plans for an accelerated reader program and a drug-prevention program with the kids.

The library averages about 15 to 20 students a day, and more on Wednesdays, when the center has 4-H meetings.

The youth who come to the library are anxious to help younger children.

``One little girl makes up homework papers and does them with the younger kids,'' Ms. Csatlos said. ``They're pretty helpful.''

The response from parents and school officials has been positive.

``A few parents have stopped in and said they're glad the program is here, and they've made suggestions,'' Ms. Csatlos said.

Ms. Csatlos and Ms. Spak hope to see the library grow and to get volunteers to come in and speak to the kids.

``I'm hoping the community will see that we're here and stop in,'' Ms. Csatlos said.