OP-ED: Make Reading Great Again

By Goldie Golding

As a child growing up in Bedford-Stuyvesant in the late 1950s, I didn’t have books of my own. But I had something just as precious—the public library. Every Friday afternoon, my friends and I would walk together to our local branch, eager to bring home new books for the weekend.

We’d spend hours reading and debating our favorites—Charlotte’s Web, The Secret Garden, Nancy Drew, Amelia Bedelia. Those books weren’t just stories. They were portals to new worlds that sparked our imagination and helped us fall in love with reading.

Fast forward to today: many children are blessed to have bookshelves of their own. Some even have personal mini-libraries. And yet, books now compete with screens, tablets, and phones that dominate attention and stifle focus. In this digital age, it’s easy for reading to fall by the wayside.

As a longtime educator and former school director, I know that reading is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. It shapes minds, builds vocabulary, fuels creativity, and forms the foundation for academic success. That’s why I’m running for Trustee on the Finkelstein Memorial Library Board.

I believe we can transform the library into a vibrant, welcoming space that draws children in—a safe haven where they can learn, dream, and explore. With the right leadership, the library can become more than a building with books. It can be a beacon of opportunity.

Election Day is Tuesday, May 6th, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Finkelstein Memorial Library. There are four open trustee seats and six candidates. Four of those candidates are from the frum Jewish community.

Your vote matters—for your family, your children, and the future of reading in our community. Let’s invest in a brighter, more literate tomorrow.

Make Reading Great Again.

Goldie Golding is an author, college professor, and former school director with more than 35 years of experience in education. She lives in Rockland County and is a candidate for the Finkelstein Memorial Library Board of Trustees.