Buying Books Makes You Rich, Donating Books Makes You Rich in Kindness

I have decided to undertake a project concerning the lack of pleasure reading books in schools. Too often, teachers lack the resources to buy books for their students because they can barely afford tissues let alone a classroom library. Books and reading should be basic supplies for students, but they aren't. Schools lack the funding and resources to update their libraries, and teachers are often left to buy their own supplies, so most teachers cannot afford their own classroom library. For these reasons, I have developed a passion for supplying students with these books.

My own reading journey began with a middle school classroom library. If I didn't develop a love for reading then, I'm not sure I would be on track to become an English teacher. That classroom library has sparked my career path and love for books and English, so without it, I'm not sure what my life would look like now.

I prioritize access to pleasure books because students are too often limited to books read in the classroom and for homework. I think students need to be educated on what the difference between academic and pleasure reading. These different purposes of reading can make the difference between a love and dislike of reading. It is because of all these reasons I have decided to raise awareness of this issue through a book drive.

A book drive on Ursinus Campus will allow for a classroom to build a library of age-appropriate reading for high school students. The book drive commences today! This book drive will go almost through the end of classes this fall semester, so it will end December 4th.

I am looking for books for students in grade school and high school (Grades 7-12)! I will be accepting donations now until December 4th! Tell your friends, tell your family, tell your students and professors. This is an issue we should all care about. The lack of books for reading purposes other than academia in schools limits students' access and opportunities to develop a like, love, or passion for reading. Please consider donating some books or money to our cause!

-Lauren