MARCH MADNESS WITH THE MASONS

The March Madness with the Masons program is back!

From March 8^th to the 21^st, the Lewiston Public Library, Auburn Public Library and the Lewiston Public Elementary Schools are partnering with the Ancient Brothers Lodge #178 and Ashlar Lodge #105 to host the 4^th annual March Madness with the Masons.

This Masonic Lodge literacy program is for children in Lewiston and Auburn and to give away brand new bikes and Kindle Fire tablets.

To participate, kids in grades 1 through 6 will fill out a book review at the Lewiston or Auburn Public Libraries and at the Lewiston Elementary School Libraries. For every book review completed, their name will be entered into the drawing to win a bike or a tablet. Kids may submit more than one book review. Once the winners are chosen, a reception will be held on March 28^th at 11am for kids to receive one of the prizes in Callahan Hall at the Lewiston Public Library.

The brothers of Ancient Brothers Lodge #178 are excited to partner with the Lewiston Public Library to expand our lodge’s Bikes for Books program. To continue to work at improving the community at large, as well as to aid in the success of our children and the future to come, it’s essential to establish a love for reading early in life. Towards that end, the Maine Masonic Charity Foundation and Masons in Maine are happy to bring the Masonic Bikes for Books program to children throughout Maine. The objectives of the program are fourfold:

* To increase children’s reading and comprehension skills.

* To recognize positive child achievements.

* To provide an attainable goal, with life enhancing results.

* To get children to be active outside.

The Ashlar Lodge literacy program is designed to help schools promote reading for Kindergarten through sixth grade students. The libraries provide a reading program to encourage kids to read and they provide Kindles as an incentive. They feel that Kindles will help students gain access to reading through the public library system and learn to enjoy reading. As one of the seven liberal arts and sciences, they believe reading will help children grow and prosper into young adults and accomplish their goals in life.

The Lewiston Public Library is located downtown at 200 Lisbon Street at the corner of Pine Street and Lisbon Street.

More information on this program is available by contacting the Lewiston Public Library at 513-3133 or LPLKids@lewistonmaine.gov.