Isabella Rosario. Photo: Beowulf SheehanIsabella Rosario, a 6-year-old from Staten Island, went to the St. George Library Center nearly every day last summer.

It more than paid off.

Isabella read almost 250 books in three months — making her among the city’s top readers in last year’s Summer Reading program, which encourages kids to keep reading during their vacation.

Now, though she is only in kindergarten, Isabella is already reading at a second-grade level.

“I feel happy at the Library because there is so much to do,” said Isabella, who along with other top readers from across the city was honored at a ceremony at Yankee Stadium last September. “There are so many books at the Library. Every page has something different.”

Library hours and programs for children, along with many other essential services, will be greatly curtailed under the city’s $40 million funding cut to the Library.

Isabella’s mom, Patricia Vega, said her daughter’s love of reading is thanks to the Library — and her favorite librarians.

“They are her best buddies. They make reading fun,” said Vega, who said that last summer Isabella loved curling up for hours with new books in her favorite beanbag at the Library and then going to talk to the librarians about what she had read. “They gave her that motivation and encouragement.”

With this year’s Summer Reading program set to launch June 9, Isabella said she can’t wait to spend lots more time in the Library and find even more new books to read.

“I like to read because there’s a lot of things I want to know about,” said Isabella, who especially loves books about animals and wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up. “Pictures and words tell you about things you don’t know about. I learn a lot at the Library.”

Please join Isabella Rosario and other NYPL users in speaking out against these crippling cuts, which would close up to 12 neighborhood libraries and reduce others to just four days per week. It takes just a few clicks to send a letter to your elected officials urging them to restore funding. Help save libraries!