The 1000 Books Program
The Marlboro Faculty Association (MFA) launched the 1000 Book Project in June 1998 as a key component of the Marlboro Central School District’s Early Intervention Plan. The project’s goal is to enhance children’s reading skills and foster a lifelong love of reading by encouraging families to read 1,000 books with their children. To help families achieve this, the MFA invested in a unique book program that provided packs of 10 books, each consisting of 100 different book sets.
With the leadership of MFA President at the time, Joe Pesavento, and his strong ties to the local community, the program quickly gained support from generous benefactors who pledged funds to sustain it. Retired teacher Celeste Ricciardone, a key figure in developing the program, helped secure donations that enabled the creation of two sets of book packs—one at the Marlboro Free Library in Marlboro and the other at the Sarah Hull Hallock Free Library in Milton.
In 2021, Kathy Keane, a 6th-grade teacher at Marlboro Middle School, and Maureen Stalter, the librarian at Marlboro Elementary School, took the reins of the 1000 Book Project. With generous community support, they successfully refreshed nearly all of the 100 book packs at the Marlboro Free Library. A key contributor to this effort was student Kaylee Keane, who launched a "Giving Book Drive" in 2021 to help restock the book packs with new, high-quality books. Her initiative not only brought in essential new books but also raised awareness of the project, ensuring its ongoing success. Thanks to Kaylee’s dedication and the generosity of the community, the 1000 Book Project continues to thrive.
In the year spanning from January 2024 to January 2025, the 1000 Book Project circulated 936 books. So far this year (since January 2025), the program has circulated 189 books, with over 75 new families signing up to participate. Reading to children from an early age plays a critical role in closing the vocabulary gap and ensuring that children enter kindergarten with the skills needed for success. Most importantly, the program helps instill a lifelong love of reading.
Each year, the MFA recognizes the accomplishments of young readers who commit to finishing 1,000 books. These students are honored at Marlboro Board of Education meetings and receive a canvas bookbag tote, a new novel to read, a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card, and a special 1000 Book t-shirt. This is a tradition we hope will continue for years to come, inspiring even more children to discover the joys of reading.