ELLINGTON — The Ellington Farman Library is starting a new program to recognizing a child’s birthday with gifts that promote early literacy and communication skills.

Every child between the ages of 1 and 7 who lives in the Ellington Farman Library area is welcome to be registered for the Birthday Book Bash program. The program aims to increase early literacy skills, foster intergenerational opportunities and get local young children/families to be enthusiastic about visiting a library. The library will be recognizing a child’s birthday with the gift of an age-appropriate book and puppet to be given within their birthday month.

Parents or guardians should come into the library to apply for a library card for each child they would like to register. The child will then receive a birthday greeting post card in their special month. At any time during that month the family may bring the child to the library to receive their gift. The library staff hopes by receiving the gift the child will learn that a library is a fun place to visit.

The library has a Children’s Room stocked with books, games, puzzles and magazines. They can also pick up a copy of the “Farman Bear” children’s monthly newsletter that is geared specifically for those ages 4 to 8. The library’s Maker Space is located in the Community Room and is open anytime there is not a program in progress. In the Maker Space children can play with Legos, games, cards or create something using craft materials. The library also has a large collection of children’s DVDs they may check out with their own library card.

The Birthday Book Bash program is funded in part with a grant from the Falconer Region Community Fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

For more information, visit ellingtonlibrary.org or follow the Ellington Farman Library on Facebook. Digital and printed copies of the library’s monthly newsletter are available by emailing infor@ellingtonibrary.org or by stopping in during open hours. The Farman Free Library is located on 760 Thornton Road, Ellington. Library hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.