A Second Chance for a Bookshelf Becomes a First Chapter for Young Patients at NYC Health + Hospital/Jacobi | North Central Bronx

A Second Chance for a Bookshelf Becomes a First Chapter for Young Patients at NYC Health + Hospital/Jacobi | North Central Bronx

North Central Bronx transforms a discarded piece of furniture into a source of comfort and imagination for children in its care

Oct 14, 2026

For the young patients who walk through the doors of North Central Bronx's (NCB) Pediatric Outpatient Services, a hospital visit can bring worry, waiting, and uncertainty. Now, it will also bring something else: a story to take home.

NCB celebrated the ribbon-cutting of a newly refurbished children's bookshelf, once destined for the trash, now reborn as a bright, welcoming Choose a Book, Keep a Book station.

"This is a wonderful extension of our mission because our mission is not only to treat diseases and illnesses. We work on creating a strong family bond within the families, and also creating a safe, lovely and thriving environment for our patients," said Dr. Boris Mashalov,Medical Director, Pediatrics at North Central Bronx. "In our digital world that we are living in now, our kids are surrounded with iPads, iPhones, TikToks - everything that is trying to get their attention. But we do know that the digital world separates us. What the paper book does is bring us together."

Artist-in-Residence Cibele Vieira hand-painted the bookshelf with butterflies and caterpillars, and the Jacobi/NCB Health Initiatives Team, NCB Ambulatory Care, Painters, Locksmith, and Engineering & Maintenance teams, along with Helping Healers Heal (H3), brought it to life.

"The bookshelf project reflects NCB's commitment to caring for the whole family by supporting the well-being of our pediatric patients beyond their medical needs," said Jaslynne Medina, Associate Executive Director, NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx. "What began as a grassroots idea from our staff transformed an unused bookshelf into a welcoming resource that encourages reading, sparks joy, and helps foster a lifelong love of learning."

The New York Public Library and Scholastic Inc. generously donated the books lining the shelves.

"We hope that having access to books during hospital visits offers children and families comfort, joy, and a positive distraction during their stay," said Ruth Rodriguez, Manager of School Age Community Outreach, Children's Programs and Services, New York Public Library. "Ultimately, we want these stories to inspire interest, expand horizons, and encourage a lasting love of reading for every young patient."

Every pediatric patient visiting the clinic is invited to choose a book to enjoy - and keep.

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Contact: Rawle Titus, NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx, 332-259-2512

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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx
The Jacobi campus of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx is a 457-bed teaching hospital affiliated with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. The facility has earned numerous Center of Excellence designations, accreditation, and recognition for its renowned Level 1 Trauma Center, Burn Center, Surgical Intensive Care Unit, regional Stroke Center, Snakebite Treatment Center, Breast Health Center, Bariatric Surgery Center, and Cancer Service. The facility also offers the region's only multi-person hyperbaric chamber, allowing up to nine patients to dive together at one time. Jacobi's Ambulatory Care Pavilion is a stunning complement to its inpatient acute care, allowing staff to provide patients with high-quality service in a modern, state-of-the-art environment. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/jacobi.

The North Central Bronx campus of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx is a member facility of the NYC Health + Hospitals system, one of eleven acute care facilities within the City of New York. A 215-bed community hospital, North Central Bronx Hospital specializes in women's and children's services. It also provides Behavioral Health acute and ambulatory care. Its busy outpatient department has led the way in community-based care delivered in a compassionate and culturally-appropriate manner. Its Labor and Delivery service safely brings more than 1,000 babies into the world each year. North Central Bronx is committed to providing safe, high-quality medical care for any and all in need. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/north-central-bronx.

About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city's five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system's trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth -all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.