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 
My book from Amazon is on its way to you!
I have some YA series books that I can ship your way next week. I wish you all the best with this project.
On a slightly related note, you could try going through Donors Choose to get the seating from your wish list. It’s free to sign up and every little bit helps with this kind of endeavor. 🙂
P.S. LOVE the name of your blog. Throwing Chanclas sounds like something I would name my own blog. LOL
Gracias!
I am an author, and have 2 books published now and working on a third. I will gladly send you a copy of each as soon as I get them in. Can you please email me the information so that I can have it saved? generationsonbog@yahoo.com
I’m recently unemployed but used my Amazon points to send you the box set of the Abhorsen series by Garth Nix. It is my all-time favorite YA series and I would put it in the hands of every girl from the age of 12 to 25 if I could. Although not written by a female author, it has the best example of strong female characters I’ve seen in any series. They are smart, competent, and capable. Best of all, any time a guy comes along who any other author would have immediately become the focus of the female character’s attention her response is basically, “I’m busy saving the world. Can we do this later?”
The three books together are great lessons in being independent, self-reliant, and unapologetically self-assured. The first book is about being confident in who you are and what’s important, and doing everything to make it happen. The second books is about how being different can be hard but also wonderful. The third book is about family and the importance of strong female role models. I really hope your readers enjoy them.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
As a side note, my boys adored these too…
How do you feel about galleys/Advanced Reviewer Copies of books? I used to work in a bookstore and have a bunch of YA and some MG galleys I’d be happy to send along. Indie bookstores are always looking for good places to donate them!
Publishers get cranky about ARCs in libraries. That is an unfinished copy of the final book, there are often typesetting errors and other problems. Those of us who review books have no problem with that but most libraries won’t accept them. Up to you, just thought you should have the background information.
I’m hoping they’ll understand it won’t be cutting into their profit margin in a ton where very few people were buying books in the first place?
We know. But from our perspective we have kids without anything. If we are overwhelmed with “real” books, perhaps we can give away ARCs? These are books sitting somewhere. We’ve told the students they can play proofreader and find the errors.
Agreed! I’m a book blogger who is moving soon and I’ve got so many books I’d love to donate.
Replying to follow response. Have tons of galleys that are collecting dust!
I’m not sure if your public library has access to e-books and audiobooks through Overdrive, but my local library does, and they have a great selection of YA books. I realize that not everyone will have access to e-readers, but you can also read on your phone and computer, with the apps.
I wonder if the school library could establish a virtual library with Overdrive?
Thank you for putting this call for books out!
I’ll send you a copy of my novel, but I’m also wondering if you’d like some YA (or other) books in nearly new condition? Fairly recent titles by John Green and Rainbow Rowell, etc. I’m a voracious reader and could put together some books that I would otherwise just donate elsewhere. Let me know.
I write a middle grade/young adult series and I will send you the first six books in the series. I will also send you a copy of Anne Hillerman’s THE SPIDER WOMAN’S DAUGHTER, which features a Navajo protagonist and is set in the Southwest (she took over for her father, Tony, when he died).
Do you only accept brand new books or would you also accept old/used/well-read and worn out books?
As someone who was absolutely electric with a love of reading in high school, it makes me sad to hear about students with a lack of good reading material! Was hard to just pick a few, but 2 fiction/literature & 2 non-fiction books coming your way via Amazon. Good luck!
It breaks my heart to hear about students with too little reading material. How will their young minds blossom? It was hard to pick just a handful, but 2 fiction/literature and 2 non-fiction/memoir coming your way through Amazon! Good luck.
Can I order from your local bookstore? I’d rather give an independent store the business than Amazon
Reblogged this on merethewalther and commented:
Help them out!
Hello do you accept books from individuals? I have so many that I would love to send you some.
Do you mind (lightly) used books?
I’ve alerted a couple of our local authors – one you will have heard of – so hoping they will contact you. Also have sent a message to our local library.
I have some, in good condition, art books (how to type) would they be of use?
Libraries and bookstores were my sanctuary growing up. I hope the books I sent will allow your library to be a sanctuary for someone else.
On its way!
Contact Scholastic Book Club. Look up library grants. Contact Dolly Parton. State colleges and universities have to recycle their books periodically.
Hello, this is Marcia Adams in Clarksville, Tennessee. You will receive a large Amazon package in a couple of days. I am a retired English professor. I selected a mixture of subjects from your list and added a couple of selections. My first year college students did not especially enjoy reading, primarily because they had been subjected to dry, uninteresting texts. Please consider House On Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, if you have not already done so. Good luck and God bless!
You have a shipment of 8 books coming to you from Amazon (including a copy of my own book). Best of luck with this very important project!
Do you accept paperbacks? Both mass market and trade? A few of my top favorite fantasy novels that affected me deeply as a teen are not available in hardcover, unfortunately.
Have you tried a Donors Choose grant? Multiple teachers can combine to get larger amounts of money for their project. I love this idea and will send something from Amazon soon.
http://www.paperbackswap.com does a donation campaign for schools every year and has literally donated thousands of books. I’d see if you can get on their list. That said I will go through my books and bring your wishlist to our local used book store where I have more credit than I know what to do with…
I’ve been sharing on all of my social media — have seen quite a few responses from authors, bloggers, and readers in my timelines. I hope your shelves overflow with awesome stuff. ❤
Reblogged this on Blogfest at Tiffany's and commented:
I can’t really add anything of value. Please buy them a couple of books.
#blogjune
In addition to sending a couple new books, I have some basically brand new library bound selections that I had to weed from my library (elementary school) for age inappropriate content. Most are award winners, which is why they were ordered by a previous librarian – but it was discovered upon reading that the subject matter, while good for middle/high schoolers, was marginal for our younger patrons. Luckily we read them before we got “the call.” They are on my shelves here at home but I would be delighted to send them to you as they meet your criteria nicely, all but for being (slightly) ex library. I didn’t mark them up when I purged them, so it shouldn’t be an issue. Let me know if that works for you!
Reblogged this on Buried Under Books and commented:
We’re all booklovers here, whether we be readers or authors. If you’d like to help a small community, especially the junior/senior high school, rebuild their library, perhaps you’d like to send a book or two. Some adult books are also welcome for their public library which is in almost as dire need.
I just sent a few books from Amazon to you. I want to echo the Donors’ Choose suggestion. Although I think you’d have to work with a classroom teacher, you might be able to get books from a library vendor (so no processing for you to do) like Follett.And you’d reach loads of people.
Good luck!
I am a middle school teacher and have some duplicate books I can send. I also have a lot of YA and fiction. Will spend some time this summer getting the books together!
I’m sending you 3 books, one from your wish list and 2 that I have personally enjoyed. The second 2 are coming from third-party sellers and I’m pretty sure they will get to you before July. I’m sending you “Where Angels Fear to Tread” by E.M. Forster, “White Teeth” by Zadie Smith and “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro. The last two start your collection of books written by people of color. 😀
Hello Margaret!
I just finalised my order, but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to send as many as I could, as I’m not in the U.S. (in Belgium), but I hope your kids will like it 🙂 !
I do have a lot of ebooks though, and you mention people sending Kindles. So if you’d like, I’d be happy to send you lots and lots of ebooks (could be done via my Dropbox).
You just let me know 🙂
Enza
I realize you’re looking for more diverse fiction and non fiction for the kids, but would more popular books also be okay? I like to read YA, and I’m ready to find new homes for a lot of those books.
Reblogged this on Paula Acton and commented:
If any author friends can send a book or two…
Sent you a compendium of the His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman through Amazon. My librarian gave me a copy of The Golden Compass in junior high, and I wanted to return the favor.
Reblogged this on Kim Talks Books and commented:
Everyone, we can help! Let’s all donate a book! Let’s do what we can to inspire dreams!
The Amazon wish list makes it easy to donate. A book and a bean bag chair are on the way.
I understand your plan – our town has a closed library and the nearest is 20 minutes away- our town has no school ( budget cuts ) and sends kids 45 minutes away – But my son gets his books from the public library online system –
thanks for bring this problem to our attention- a real problem in all small towns.
Oh thank you so much! Coming from a turbulent background, reading led me straight out of that world into exploration, creativity and hope! Keep up the great work in opening the doors for others and their future! Blessings to you
I have an older Kindle Fire and a Nook that are sitting and gathering dust after upgrading. Are those something that you would be interested in? I have chargers and cases.
Do they have to be new? I’m a “retired” homeschool Mom who has books I could donate, but not new.
The Amazon wish list pointed to a Panasonic cd player, is this correct?
Your Amazon wishlist seems to be empty, except for an CD walkman. Is this link bringing up the correct list?
It went from 800 to 1 in 36 hours.Please check back. Thanks.
I have a box of assorted books that I am packing up to send to your very worthwhile project. Thank you for bringing attention to the needs of the community.
I’ve just sent a set of the Chronicles of Prydain from your wishlist over. Obsessed over them as a kid myself almost 40 years back, hope they find a similarly enthusiastic audience over there 🙂
I just left a job as a classroom teacher to become a school librarian. All of my books are currently in storage (I had a housefire and am currently living in rooms) but I hope to be able to get to them and through them soon. Would any of your teachers have use for a class set of a novel? I also have a couple of those – not new, but very gently used.
Im currently after the teachers to let me know what their class set wishes are. Check back with me. Thanks.
Three of my all time favorite books are on their way to your project. I may not be able to stop there, but that’s round one!
Do you need picture books? Can we send gently used books too? What year do you think your books cap out at? What decade of classics should we start at? 80s? 90s? Is the Amazon wish list working? I don’t see any books on it, just a set of walkmans. Thanks!
I had 750 books films and music listed in there and woke up to it empty! 🙂 Any decade. Think in terms of what you think kids should have a working cultural knowledge of.