Two years ago, after the used book sale, the Friends put out the call for a need for children’s books. We received a message from Marci Treadwell, a Seward small business owner (Starbird Studio) by summer and a teacher during the school year in Fort Yukon.
Marci expressed a need for children’s books. Many of her first grade students could use a book to have for their own, to take home and practice reading and share with siblings. No community library and no school library was available to her students. A sponsor came forward to pay for that first mailing of used children’s books and it started our ‘Books to the Bush’ program.
All our used children’s books that are retired from the library shelves or donated by community are available for free during the year and again for free at our annual used book sale, held in April. The remaining books after the sale go into storage. Rather than have used books sitting, the Friends of the Library looked for a way to put the used books into children’s hands. Marci’s need provided that.
This September, Marci carried our message to other teachers from remote locations that also have a need for books to give to their students and have in their class rooms. Five boxes weighing 50+ pounds each were mailed, book rate, to Fort Yukon, Venetie, Circle, Beaver and Chalkyitsik.
If you know of a family, school, teacher, pre-school, community center near or far, that has a need for children’s books, let us know.
Email: [email protected] or call 907-362-1225
Photo provided by Marci Treadwell, Fort Yukon children opening their box of books.
Photo by SCLA of the note from students.