On Friday, March 6th, New Concepts for Living proudly celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new NCFL Library and Media Center at the Paramus Achievement Center — a space designed to make reading, learning, and creativity accessible to individuals of all abilities.
The celebration began in Town Square, where Day Program participants, staff, and guests gathered together to mark this exciting milestone for the NCFL community.
Assistant Day Program Director Caitlin Lee welcomed everyone and spoke about the inspiration behind the library and the many ways it will enrich the daily lives of participants. She also took a moment to recognize and thank Kim Catalfamo, whose dedication, vision, and countless hours of volunteer work brought the library to life.
Kim, a retired physical education teacher for children with special needs and the mother of Joey, a 27-year-old NCFL Day Program participant, saw the unfinished library space during a tour of the Achievement Center and immediately knew she wanted to help turn the vision into reality.
Before: Kim Catalfamo sitting in the library organizing donated books.
After: Kim Catalfamo sitting in the finished library.
Over the past year, Kim worked tirelessly to transform the space into a fully functioning and welcoming library designed specifically for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She collected donated books from across New Jersey, personally invested her own funds to support the project, and carefully curated materials that ensure readers of all levels can enjoy the space.
The library features symbol-supported books, dyslexia-friendly reading materials, large-print adaptations, and clearly labeled sections using visual images to make navigation easier. Kim also created a complete library cataloging system, library cards for participants and staff, and a traditional checkout system.
In another thoughtful touch, Kim designed custom tote bags for every Day Program participant, allowing them to carry and check out books just like they would at a community library.
Following Caitlin’s remarks, Kim took the podium to share her experience creating the library and her hopes for the space.
She spoke about the joy she hopes participants will experience while exploring books, discovering new interests, and building life skills through reading and learning.
Guests in Town Square were then treated to a special video presentation highlighting the story behind the library and the incredible effort that went into creating it.
After the video, Kim, Joey, Kim’s mother and sister, Day Program Director Trish Svec, Assistant Day Program Directors Lisa Callahan and Caitlin Lee, made their way to the library for the official ribbon cutting.
The moment was live-streamed to Town Square, allowing everyone gathered to celebrate together as the ribbon was cut and the new library officially opened.
The NCFL Library and Media Center will serve as a vibrant space where participants can explore books, enjoy movies and audiobooks, play games and puzzles, and participate in engaging learning activities that promote independence, creativity, and lifelong learning.
More than just a room filled with books, the library stands as a beautiful example of what can happen when community, compassion, and dedication come together.
Thanks to Kim Catalfamo’s extraordinary efforts, NCFL participants now have a welcoming space where every reader belongs.
