NEA’s Books Across America & Tour help restockGulf Coast public school libraries
Many Gulf Coast public school libraries were destroyed during the 2005 hurricane season. Six months following the hurricanes, library shelves remain empty. Statistics from the American Library Association are startling:
- In Louisiana, more than 150 school libraries were damaged or destroyed. New Orleans Parish alone lost 63 percent of its 126 schools.
- Mississippi lost 43 school libraries. Mississippi ’s Department of Education estimates it will cost more than $32 million to replace libraries and media centers. It will take approximately $6.1 million to replace media materials including periodicals, trade books and supplies.
- Texas library facilities from Beaumont to Orange to Silsbee took a beating.
- Alabama lost not only about 14,000 valuable books, but also the historic Mose Hudson Tapia Public Library in Bayou La Batre. The 73-year-old log building took on about six feet of water. Black mold took over once the water receded.
Books Across America is NEA’s second action aimed at providing hurricane relief. In September 2005, immediately following Hurricane Katrina, NEA set up a Hurricane Relief Fund for students, teachers and school employees affected by the hurricane. In addition, NEA provided $500,000 in direct aid, set up a toll-free helpline for Gulf Coast school employees and created the NEA Adopt a School Program to match donors with schools and classrooms in need of assistance.
The Book Tour
In February the NEA and its partners, The NEA Foundation, First Book, and The Heart of America Foundation®, launched Books Across America — a nationwide initiative to provide new books to public school libraries and students in need.
A Reading Relief Tour kicked off February 27 and ended in New Orleans on Read Across America Day, March 2, the birthday of beloved children’s author Theodor Geisel (Dr. Seuss). New books were delivered to more than 40 public schools in more than 26 cities impacted by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. A host of celebrities and NEA members participated in reading events and delivered new books and money to public school libraries and their students.
“Bringing books back to these schools and students who have lost so much is a top priority for NEA,” said NEA President Reg Weaver. “ We are engaging people nationwide to do everything they can to restock the shelves of public schools in the Gulf Coast.”
First Book provided every child in each school visited with a new book, while The Heart of America Foundation® donated new library books for all the schools involved in the Reading Relief Tour. In addition, NEA member schools across the country are being paired with Gulf Coast public schools to help provide new books. NEA member schools are achieving this through organizing book drives and coordinating fundraisers throughout the year.
Books Across America’s efforts to restock Gulf Coast public school libraries continue beyond the Reading Relief Tour. Nearly 45 million individuals nationwide are expected to join the program this year by donating money and new books, fundraising, organizing book drives and volunteering their time to deliver books.
For more information about NEA’s Books Across America, visit www.nea.org/booksacross.
What you can do:
-
Make a cash donation. Don’t forget that KNEA President Christy Levings has asked each local to donate $1 per member to hurricane relief efforts. Has your local donated? Ask your local president. The NEA Foundation is collecting monetary contributions to provide directly to public schools so they can replenish their materials. Go to www.nea.org for details.
-
Buy books for school libraries. Through First Book, individuals can buy specific books for children to read at home. First Book is also offering several opportunities for volunteers to help get even more books into the hands of children. Go to www.firstbook.org .
-
Organize a book drive. The Heart of America Foundation® is spearheading book drives to get books to public school libraries and classrooms. They are also providing information to volunteers on how to organize their own drives. Visit www.heartofamerica.org .
|
Archives
Printer friendly
E-mail
Subscribe