Visitors to a couple of waiting rooms at UofL听Hospital now have access to an array of books courtesy of an Eagle Scout project.
Michael Siebert, 17, raised money to buy two听, a nonprofit book exchange, for the waiting areas of the听and the main operating room. Siebert stocked the libraries with a variety of books for all ages and visitors are encouraged to bring a book and take one home.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a good way to promote reading for families,鈥 Siebert said. 鈥淚t gives them something to do, besides watch TV, if they鈥檙e anxious about a family member who鈥檚 at the hospital.鈥
Books are a great way to entertain young children who accompany parents visiting a baby in the neonatal intensive care unit, said Siebert鈥檚 mom, Miriam Fallon-Siebert, a registered nurse in the NICU at UofL Hospital. Siebert鈥檚 dad, Mark Siebert, also works at the hospital as a registered nurse in preop.
鈥淢any times, we have babies who are in our hospital for three to four months,鈥 Fallon-Siebert said. 鈥淵oung siblings often accompany their parents, but aren’t allowed to come into the NICU to prevent the spread of germs.鈥
The hospital鈥檚 volunteer office will manage the libraries and staff members are encouraged to donate clean books for all ages. Donations are accepted at the volunteer office in the hospital basement.
