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30,000 free books headed to area children

By KATRINA SMITH

Story Created: Sep 7, 2012 at 12:06 PM EDT

Story Updated: Sep 7, 2012 at 12:35 PM EDT

ROME, N.Y. (WKTV) - 30,000 books are coming to Rome and Western Oneida County, beginning with Francis Bellamy Elementary School in Rome.

Students and teachers were presented with books right off the truck on Friday morning as the Literacy Coalition of Herkimer and Oneida Counties partnered with "Duffy Books in Homes" to bring more than $135,000 worth of books to the area.

"Children, if they don't read or aren't reading at grade level by the time they reach 4th grade, are not going to do well," said Richard Quest of Duffy Books in Homes USA. "Those who can are three times more likely to graduate from high school."

The 53-foot tractor trailer delivery of bonus books Friday morning was free to the students.

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