Salem State College president Nancy Harrington reads, “Alexander's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” to members of Elissa LaSota's first grade class in the Bushner SELECT Nook of the Salem State College library Thursday, Dec. 4.

SALEM – Salem State College has designated a portion of its library as a reading area for children in memory of Dr. Diane Bushner, a former professor of education and graduate coordinator who donated over 5,000 children's books to the college.

During a ceremony Thursday, Bushner, who died Dec. 11, 2002, was remembered by her colleagues and friends as a tireless worker who coordinated Salem State's master's program in reading. She was also a leader of the Reading Clinic for children and directed the Massachusetts Children's Book Award program.

Before arriving at Salem State in 1993, Ms. Bushner spent many years as a teacher and Title I director for the Cambridge Public Schools.

While her mother, Helen Bushner of Salem, looked on, a plaque commemorating Diane's love of children's literature was unveiled in a special section of the college's Educational Resource Library. The area, featuring many of Dr. Bushner's donated books, has been designated the Bushner SELECT (Select and Evaluate Literature to Empower Children and Teachers) Nook and is open to the public. Books for the SELECT nook are supplied by publishers with the understanding that they will be available to students and faculty for review. Dr. Bushner began the SELECT program in 1996 with former Salem State professor Jo Ann Brewer-Harp. The program continues to enable students to have access to recently published works of children's literature.

“In trying to come to terms with Dr. Bushner's passing, many of us will seek ways in which we can remember her love of children's literature,” said professor Michelle Pierce. “Fortunately, we have a special place in which to do so.”

For more information, call Pierce at (978) 542-7903, the Education Resource Library at (978) 542-6767 or visit www.salemstate.edu .