US News

GRANNY’S SHELF LIFE

A Brooklyn elementary school doesn’t have a full-time, licensed librarian, but it does have 83-year-old great-grandmother Ruth Silber – a volunteer who runs the library and makes it a success story.

“She’s a phenomenal, energetic lady. She’s patient. She’s kind and the children love her,” PS 273 Principal Melessa Avery said of the retired union bookkeeper who tends the library at the East New York school five days a week from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Silber said, “I enjoy doing it, sweetheart. I love the children. It is so important when they love to read.

“I would like to make the library an important part of the children’s lives.”

Silber, who volunteers through Learning Leaders, a nonprofit that recruits, trains and places volunteers in public schools throughout the city, was nominated for a Leadership Liberty Medal by Elizabeth Van Epps, a spokeswoman for the organization.

The great-granny who has volunteered in the school’s library for 13 years, says that although computers – the library has four – are great, she’s thrilled when kids come in eager to take out a book.

Avery said, “I have a lot of kids whose parents can’t take them to the library because they’re working two jobs, and quite a few kids who don’t have computers, so Mrs. Silber’s presence provides an opportunity for those less fortunate students to complete required assignments.”

rita.delfiner@nypost.com