A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Generous Volunteer and Donor

We would like to extend our warmest and sincerest thanks to all the wonderful patrons who have stopped by to donate books to the Pohnpei Public Library. Each donation—whether a beloved children’s story, a well-worn novel, or an informative guide—has helped enrich our shelves and, more importantly, our community. Your kindness makes it possible for others to explore new worlds, learn new ideas, and discover the joy of reading. Thank you for thinking of us and for choosing to share your stories with others.

This week we was want to share how we are especially grateful for individuals like Zachary Petrini, a dedicated student volunteer whose generosity and spirit have left a lasting impression on the library. Not only has Zachary given his time to assist during programs and events, but he has also donated a variety of books, a collection of LEGOs, and even iPads—resources that will bring joy, creativity, and valuable learning opportunities to our young patrons. His thoughtfulness and commitment reflect the very best of our community, and we deeply appreciate the difference he made at the library.

As Zachary prepares to move on to the next chapter of his journey, we know his presence at the library will be missed. His consistent dedication and helpful attitude have made a positive impact on our programs and on the many young visitors who have benefited from his support. The Board of the FPPL as well as the staff are grateful for everything he’s contributed during his time with us, and we wish him all the best in what comes next.

We are deeply grateful to be part of a community that gives so generously and cares so deeply. Thank you for standing with us.

Another Successful Summer Reading Program, See You Next Year!

On July 18th (Friday), we kicked off our short and sweet closing to sum up the summer reading program of this year and send off our littles ones into their brand new school year armed with new knowledge and braving the terrains of their next grade level with new friends they had made at the Friends of the Pohnpei Public Library.

The program took place in the kids section of the library, hosting what looked to be 60-80 people including parents and participants. It started at 1:30pm with a welcoming from the Assistant Librarian Emyleen P. Albert with the Library Technician, Erika Billen, as the MC, guiding the days event. Like every local happenings and gathering, we followed the welcoming with a prayer from our staff before jumping right into a relay of very engaging Cluster 3 and Cluster 2 presentations and story readings.

Cluster 3 prepared power-point presentations showcasing their exciting adventures over the past three weeks from Resources and Development of Pohnpei State, Historic Preservation Office, Pohnpei State Fire-Station,Micronesian Red Cross, Library of Congress and the Learning Resource Center at the College of Micronesia National Campus. All of those amazing adventures were only made possible through the kind generosity of each office and organizational representatives that saw the meaning of all that we do for the kids here at the library.

The young pre-teens got to familiarize themselves with the usage of computers in the computer lab--handling the keyboards, mouse, opening programs, and saving files among many other lessons during this program. Being able to exhibit these newly acquired skill-set was perfect. Public speaking was also practiced in the last session with games and activities that required actually standing in front of everyone and conveying a message. On this final day, we see these lessons in full display.

We are always a little heavy-hearted at the end of the program, but that is also soothed with the fact that we have helped equip the little ones for their educational journey.

To help them face their new school year, we also get to give-away some gift bags filled with stationaries such as books pencils, sharpeners, journal books, rulers/protractors, activity books, water-bottles, and more! All of these gifts were made possible through the kind contributions from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through the assistance of the FSM National Archives, Cultural and Historic Preservation (NACH).

Furthermore, the program would not have been a success without the support and assistance from our trusted student volunteers that put in the extra over-time here with us at the library. The student volunteers hailing from Xavier, Christian Calvary Academy, and Seventh Day Adventist have all been absolutely instrumental not only in the preparation but also the execution of the Summer Reading Program activities and closing event. No action is small, everything from making paper decorations to encouraging the little ones to brave their turn in games and read-aloud activities; everything means a lot to us and we would like to express our sincere appreciation to the following students:

STUDENT VOLUNTEERS SRP 2025:

Victoria Weital (SDA)       Renee Nakasone (SDA) Jude Adolf (SDA)
Emry Among (SDA)       Marlisha Dungawin (SDA) Retemetaw Urseram (Xavier)
Rixon Moufa (Xavier)       Kapono Sigrah (Xavier) Marxis Iriarte (Xavier)
Tajeera Ifamilik (Xavier)   Gabriella Gallen (Xavier) Ramielle James (CCA)
Demirose Sione (CCA)      Ahti Moses (CCA) Erika Ludwig (CCA)
Wenbert Sue (CCA)

To our incredible student volunteers,

Your presence this summer brought warmth, energy, and heart to every corner of our library. Through your patience, kindness, and unwavering commitment, you helped nurture a love of reading in our children and made each day of the program brighter. You gave your time selflessly, shared your smiles generously, and created moments of joy that will stay with these young readers for years to come. Your service went far beyond tasks — you became mentors, role models, and cherished members of our library family. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for leaving such a beautiful mark on this summer and on the lives you touched. Unfortunately, some of you were camera shy and escaped the clutches of our media person, but our appreciation is still floating towards you from this blog post.

We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Mercedes Olter, one of our very own who is a graduate from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa (UHM) where she received her BEd in Special Education-Extensive Support Needs (SPED-ESN). Mercedes played an important role in this year’s Summer Reading Program by helping lead several activities with both Cluster 1 and Cluster 2. Her thoughtful approach, gentle leadership, and inclusive spirit made a lasting impression on the children and staff alike. In addition to volunteering her time and expertise, she also generously donated books to the library—contributions that will continue to benefit our young readers for years to come. We are truly grateful for her support and commitment to our community.

We can never forget....

To our dear JICA volunteers,

We extend our deepest and most heartfelt thanks for the incredible generosity, dedication, and warmth you brought to this year’s Summer Reading Program. Your presence not only supported our activities but deeply enriched the lives of the children you engaged with. You bridged cultures with kindness, taught through compassion, and helped build a spirit of curiosity and joy in every young reader who walked through our doors. Your willingness to serve, to listen, and to share made a lasting impression on our library community. We are truly grateful for your partnership, your spirit of service, and the beautiful memories you helped create. Thank you for being such a meaningful part of this journey.

"JICAボランティアの皆さまへ

今年のサマーリーディングプログラムにおいて、皆さまが見せてくださった温かさ、献身、そして惜しみないご協力に、心より感謝申し上げます。皆さまのご参加は、単に活動を支えてくださっただけでなく、子どもたち一人ひとりの心に深い感動と学びを与えてくださいました。文化の垣根を越えて優しさを届けてくださり、思いやりをもって教え、そして読書の楽しさと好奇心を育んでくださったこと、心から感謝しております。皆さまの奉仕の精神、耳を傾ける姿勢、そして分かち合う心は、私たち図書館コミュニティにとって大きな喜びと感動をもたらしました。この旅の大切な一部となってくださったことに、深い感謝と敬意を込めて、ありがとうをお伝えいたします."