The Friends of the Library, a grassroots organization, is perhaps best known for the two huge book sales held each spring and fall (next book sale is April 16 and 17; find info here). In addition to fundraising, the Friends advocate for the Library and literacy. We asked Joan Abrevaya, a board member, to tell us a bit about one of their annual programs that puts thousands of books in Seattle Public Schools:
The Friends of the Library board has been honored to receive a grant from the Fisher Foundation to provide Books for Teachers who work in high-need (Title I) schools. Through this grant, teachers in the Title I Seattle Public Schools can receive $100 vouchers to buy books at the Friends’ Book Sales held in April and September. In the last two years, we’ve placed more than 9,000 books in Seattle classrooms. In 2011, we hope to put another 10,000 books in our schools.
I have coordinated the Books for Teachers’ program, identifying interested teachers in qualifying schools. Nothing makes me happier than telling a teacher that the Friends can provide him or her with $100 worth of books from our Book Sale. That can easily mean 100 books for each classroom. While this has been time consuming, the rewards are phenomenal. I personally deliver each voucher to each teacher. I am greeted with hugs, cheers, songs and poems. The excitement of the kids is overwhelming. I feel privileged to be part of the Friends’ Board and am thankful for the Fisher Foundation for giving me the best volunteer job in town.
The response to this program has been wonderful. One teacher wrote:
“I teach special ed and most of my students are middle school kids with learning disabilities. Most of them would rather wrestle with a porcupine than read. I asked my students before I went to the sale what kinds of books they like to read. They wanted texts that they could relate to: ‘books about kids like us.’ At the sale, I picked books from the Orca series, poetry anthologies written by both young adults and well-known authors, and realistic fiction about young people and, specifically young people of color. When I brought the books in to school, my students were very excited. I tossed a book to one student and mentioned that I picked it out especially for him (it was about a kid who skateboards and happens to have the same name as my student). He has been reading it almost every day and, for the first time since I’ve known him, is excited about reading. Today, when I asked my students to get out their books to silent read, a student told me, ‘I’m reading this book all the time at home. Every night I read this book! I can’t put it down! I try to stop and I can’t!’”
Teachers who are interested in receiving a voucher for the September, 2011 Book Sale should contact me.
Thanks, Joan, and thanks Friends of the Library! Can’t wait for the book sale!
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