Just. One. Book.
I live in a town of 1200 people in the Northern Sierra Nevada –where it meets the Cascade Range near Mt. Lassen National Park and about two hours drive northwest of Reno, NV. Two hundred of that population is students. Over the years as the population dwindled after mills closed, then –nothing except tourism and retirement have emerged as ‘industries.’ Many businesses have closed down and with it many things we take for granted—like libraries.
The local junior/senior high school has not been able to purchase new books since the 90s. Some of the “check outs” for old books are in the 1970s-1980s. There are no books by people of color in the library. Hardly any books by women are in the few book cases except your standard Austen and Lee. It’s an uninviting place. There hasn’t been a librarian for nearly a decade. And volunteers weren’t allowed. The last eight years students couldn’t even check out books.
But all that is changing now.
Greenville Junior/Senior High School and Indian Valley Academy, which share the library space have new leadership which are welcoming the idea of revamping the library. Both principals want to see the area’s students supported and reading. Like most of rural America we have no budget for such things as books, film, music , and other media and arts.
I’ve lived here 13 years. I’ve watched kids succumb to despair. Our suicide and alcohol abuse is rampant as it is in many small rural communities. 75% of our county is beautiful national forest. 44% of jobs are government jobs—mostly forest service. There used to be mills but they closed down in the 90s. So much of that other 56% is underemployed and unemployed. It’s a beautiful place to live but it’s also a scary place for the mind to atrophy. We have a median income of under 30K. At the local elementary school 2/3 of students qualify for free lunch. Getting the picture?
What we’re good at:
Because we live in a forest we do have great resources about natural resource management, forestry, conservation. We have a number of environmental organizations that help with a good deal of education and hands on learning experiences related with the great outdoors. We also have organic farms and sustainable ranches. Yay! So there’s the silver lining.
What we’re lacking is pretty much everything else.
We need racially diverse books. We need graphic novels. We need women’s studies. We need science. We need series. We need film. We need comics. We need music. We need biographies of important people. Looking for Young Adult. Classics. We want zines! Contemporary. Poetry. Everything that would make a difference in a young person’s life. Writers send us YOUR BOOK. We have many non-readers who we’d love to turn on to reading. We need a way to take this tiny area and bring it into the 21st century. We have a whole bunch of kids who don’t like to read because all they’ve ever been given is things that are either dull , dated, or dumbed down.
The students who excel are doing so because they have supportive parents at home and access to books and tablets elsewhere. But most students are without.
So here’s what I’m asking. Will you donate a book? A real book. Something literary or fun—something that speaks to your truth, their truths. Something that teaches them something about the world. Makes them feel less alone?
I’m asking for you to send a new book or film or cd to us to help us build a library we can be proud of.
We want things that will make a difference and get kids wanting to read and wanting to create. We want to engage.
We also are getting students onboard to design their new space. Students are actively reimagining and recreating their library space.
So who is with us?
Send us one book.
GHS/Indian Valley Academy
Library Project Attn: Margaret Garcia
117 Grand Street Greenville, CA 95947
Thank you!
We now have an Amazon wish list up: Amazon Wish List
Throwing Chanclas 
Super excited to have sent my daughter’s favorite book right now (hardback, The Selection Series) to the address you posted. We’ve shared this with our Girl Scout Network so hopefully you’ll see an increase in donations. There is nothing better than to lose yourself in a good book to forget about your troubles!
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Share the words…
I’ll definitely be sending books when the wish list is published on Monday. In the meantime, have you thought about how a catalog and circulation will be handled? Would something like TinyCat by Library Thing be useful? https://www.librarycat.org
I just donated a large pile of books to my local library, but I am going through my shelves further and there are some I will be parting ways with. For the most part, I think I have some things you guys can enjoy! 🙂 I would love a copy of the wish list, if possible, though.
I have a bunch of biographies that were my mothers. When I a bunch I mean 20 to 30, haven’t really counted. All different kinds of people are covered . Are you interested in them? If so, let me know please. While I live to read biographies have never been my favorite.
As long as they are lightly used and not celebrity bios?
I would consider how old these bios are, and for what age level? If they were published in the past 10 years, maybe, but older ones may have out of date information, even if historical.
Indeed. Use your best judgement. Thank you.
This may have been answered, so I apologize if it has. What age group will be reading these books? I teach 5th, so I have a couple of books I would like to buy. But if the books are for high schoolers on,y, I need to rethink what I should send.
Hi. It’s for the junior/senior high school , so 7th-12th grade. Thank you!
I think things are about to get very interesting in your library. Nice work!
I am actually working on a volunteer crew get together at the moment.
I am sending a box of books, in hopes they will appeal to a variety of people. I am guessing that you don’t have a robust public library in your town, either (or perhaps not one at all). Wondering if you would consider devoting a shelf or 2 to books that grown ups might like to check out? Sometimes when people with passion step up and work on a project (which it sounds like you have here), expanding it just a bit to be even more inclusive could serve even a greater need in your community. Just a thought. Culling my shelves now. Thank you for bringing this out in the open and asking for help. There are plenty of people who would like to help!
We do not have a robust public, you are absolutely correct. It too has fallen prey to budget cuts. The hours of operation are just four half days a week (while school is in session no less). Also that collection (I moonlighted as an assistant there for a few years when I first moved here) leaves a good deal to be desired.
Thank you!
I am a library student and so thrilled to hear the opportunity to give books to students and teachers, etc. who will get to love them. A wishlist is coming Monday, I presume (yay!) and is there a limit to how much you want sent? (i.e. 3 copies of X, 1 copy of Y, etc.) I’m looking forward to making book magic happen. 🙂
Thanks! There’a a partial Amazon wish list up now.
Could you put up a full link to your wishlist please?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/giftlist/2ZIQ8N3ROWEVV/ref=topnav_lists_3 Greenville High School/Indian Valley Academy
Can you post the link to the wish list, please?
Also, had anybody sent the Harry Potter series yet? Would love to send you the set, as these books have drawn so many kids into reading that I think every school should have them.
Someone had donated all but book 7–which I put on the list and then was bought today so we have the set! I LOVE HARRY POTTER. Read the whole thing out loud over the course of a year to my kids utilizing every accent. They heard another mom on a train read it once and didn’t realize until that moment that their mother was a bit of a theater geek.
Is it ok to send more than one book? My 25 year old daughter has been getting rid of some of her old books (from her high school days) and there are a few that I think might be nice for your library.
Yes! Thank you!
I;m sending y’all some library binding versions of graphic novels starring Max Axiom. Should arrive around the middle of the week of June 13.
Yay! Thank you!
Waiting on wish list.
Feel free to e-mail me on it.
The list at it’s current state is on the last blog post. Thank you!
Will you take classic science fiction and fantasy that is (mostly) only available in used paperback format? (A lot of good stuff is long out of print.)
For used books purchased from Amazon is there a quality cutoff people should look for…? Say, “Used — Good” or “Used — Very Good”?
I’d say the quality cut off would be ‘very good.’ And thank you! Lots of sci-fi fans.
I an an Australian ex teacher and I would be happy to contribute. I have an account at uncle Hugo’s bookstore in Minneapolis and can arrange to pay in Aussie dollars and get them sent directly to you. Please send me your wish list so that I can ensure I’m sending something you need. I will also be sending some books from Australian aborigines of dream time stories with illustrations . All the best of luck for your project.
Thank you so much. We look forward to it.
If you post a wishlist to Amazon.com, people can buy the books right there and have them shipped directly to you.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/giftlist/2ZIQ8N3ROWEVV/ref=topnav_lists_3
Reshared!
Do you have a profile on Bookmooch yet? http://bookmooch.com/ lets you request (and send) books, and they have a special account type for non-profits/libraries.
Not yet. Thanks!
Hi there. Not seeing anyone having asked: How about young adult LGBTQ books? Nothing graphic obvs, but a few cute teen romance high school type books. Just something as an alternative to the ones coming in that will not fit the bill for this group. THANKS!
Yes. We have a tiny LGBTQ teen population and they would LOVE that.
Shared on FB with my author friends also sending their #LatinoLit. Three books published by my Latina veteran-owned educational publishing firm are coming your way. You’ll find three award-winning books that showcase the positive contributions of Latino Americans in the USA, because that’s our company mission. You’ll find “Latinnovating: Green American Jobs and the Latinos Creating Them” to inspire future college graduates and environmental entrepreneurs plus the first two books in the bilingual Captain Mama series (“Good Night Captain Mama / Buenas Noches Capitán Mamá” and “Captain Mama’s Surprise / La Sorpresa de Capitán Mamá”) based on my own military aviation career with the U.S. Air Force. The latter has July 4th pub date so you’ll receive it before distributors can sell it! I’m in the San Francisco Bay Area and would love to speak at a community event in the fall. I can also Skype into your school and tell my story of how the daughter of Mexican immigrants rebelled against low expectations for young ladies and ended up traveling the world as an officer and aviator. 🙂 Thank you for what you’re doing!
–Graciela
Excellent thank you! As a Latina writer I think more of us need our voices out there showing real life and not just the Hollywood stereotype.
I just sent The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros and The Absolutely True Story of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. They are coming directly from Amazon in separate packages to the Green Street address.
I think I saw them today!
I am a writer and run a Little Free Library. I have tons of books I can send you. Will pack some up & start sending ones I think your students will love! Good luck with your mission.
I remember when I started reading books in the little kids section at our town library that was so ” massive and beautiful ” when I was little . My love for reading has grown and I have many books I would love to send . Please keep us posted as to the donations you receive. I have a good feeling that you will be extremely excited and overwhelmed when the books start arriving . Happy reading to all .
Have you applied to the organization Kids Need To Read? Their mission is to provide books to underfunded libraries around the country. And I believe they can donate age-appropriate material. The organization was founded by a YA sci-fi writer. http://www.kidsneedtoread.org
FYI: We live in the eastern Sierra Nevada–the mountain range in California bordering Nevada. 🙂
Does the school need classroom sets of books? I stopped teaching and some of my classroom sets are collecting dust in the garage. I’d love for them to be used. I can send you the titles if that would help. I taught high school English.
I asked one of the two English teachers today. She said yes but she hadn’t yet come up with what they would do for fall semester. What sets do you have?
Media mail is super-cheap which makes this a doable proposition for me and my family! We can help!
Sending some Charles Bukowski your way. Kudos to your great effort!
BUWK!
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Help out a fellow teacher who is collecting books for the school library. Read more below.
I will be sending books! What kind of music would you be interested in?
The high school has a band program that performs jazz and classical and pop pieces. Many of the students really have never heard the songs they play before they learn to play them! I’m hoping to amass a basic classical and jazz section. I’m an ex-record store clerk and I’m going through our own collection (husband and wife merged collections) to contribute a rock/R&B/alternative/punk/hiphop section.
Are ARCs okay as well? I’m getting a stack ready!
Yes, they are.
Hi Margaret!
Have you ever thought of using sites like Donorschoose.com and also FirstBook.org? FirstBook does book give always where you only are responsible for paying shipping, $.15 per book, and sometimes book distributions in local areas where you can go pick up books ranging all the way up to young adult.
I use both these platforms often as our school does not have a library for our students and I am trying to build a classroom library. Using DonorsChoose and First book, in 3 years I have amassed over 500 books for students to borrow.
Please feel free to use my little book website as a reference for science fiction and fantasy for teens and young adults. It’s all about diverse main characters and I try to keep it inclusive, not exclusive. http://www.alienstarbooks.com
Thanks! That’s awesome.
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Imagine what your life would be like without books.
It doesn’t take a lot to change someone’s world. #justonebook
Please take a look at the Sisters In Crime we love libraries grant program. You have a chance to get $1000 for books and library supplies.
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As a homeschooler and a voracious reader, I rely on the public library a lot. A good library nearby makes all the difference in the world when you’re talking about education. Consider donating a book?
Have reposted this as a challenge to everyone I know. My spouse and I will send a book ( or two) soon
Rev. Andrea L. Stoeckel
Syracuse NY
Lauren Willig (historical/romance fiction) recently put out a call for libraries who wanted donations, since she’s clearing out her author copies. Her writing is more slanted toward adults but should be fine for high schoolers. Request a package from her if you’re interested: http://www.laurenwillig.com/news/2016/06/13/library-donations/
Have you thought of adding a label maker & tape, label protectors, book tape etc to your Amazon wish list so you can process the books? (For spine labels)
Good idea!
I wish I lived closer and I used to live in Reno. We have a Friends of the Library that donates our excess books to local non-profits. If you would contact Reno, Las Vegas, Mt Shasta, Redding etc. Perhaps their Friends could send you their excess. Shipping would be prohibitive for us to send all the way to California.
I have a large amount of very good condition used books by and about women of color, some gender studies, early California literature, etc. I’d love to send a box. These books mean a lot to me, but I’m trying to simplify my surroundings and I’d love to pass to a community that can get such a benefit as you describe. If some of the books aren’t right for your school library, could they be shared with the library that serves the public?
Hi Christina, We’d love them and yes. We are on very good terms with the county library as well.
This is such a wonderful story and as soon as I finish writing this reply, I will be checking your wish list and ordering some of the books. I also have many new unread books at my home that we bought but just know we won’t get to read at least for a very long time, so those, too, will be boxed up and sent to your library.
I am so happy to help.
Cynthia
Have you looked into http://www.betterworldbooks.com in terms of additional assistance.
Just sent you a book from your wishlist and also two books I wrote myself.
Bloggess! THANK YOU, Jenny Lawson! I’m a fan.
Hi Margaret,
Mesmerized by the response you’re receiving — and, of course, I want to be part of it. I edit books for writers and have some “proof” copies (final copies of books with a few, very few, typos). Are these okay?
And I have a library I’m trying to pare down. Including books on women’s issues, race, and my own books on grammar. I’d like to send a box as soon as I can assemble it.
Kudos to you and your team for your efforts.
Val
Books ordered 😉