A good story – Issaquah school gives the gift of reading to all families

Published 1:16 pm Friday, December 4, 2009

Despite the huge gains in education we have made as a society, illiteracy is still a relevant and pressing problem that affects millions of Americans and impacts their employment options and way of life.

Though studies vary depending on what is termed “literate,” it has been shown that more than 20 percent of adult Americans were not “able to locate information in text,” could not “make low-level inferences using printed materials,” and were unable to “integrate easily identifiable pieces of information.”

The latest available figures of adult illiteracy released in 2003 show that one out of seven adults – a total of 32 million Americans – lacks the basic skills that would allow them to read a print ad, or a ballot.

Educators understand the first few years of a child’s life is the most important in terms of making reading a central part of growing up, and adulthood.

But, for many families, particularly those beset by financial difficulties, the cost of books often puts them out of reach, off the kitchen table, and out of the play room.

In the corridor at Endeavour Elementary School in Issaquah is an illustrated poster bearing the message “a book is a gift you can open again and again.”

And it is a gift that parents and students at Endeavour will be giving this holiday season, thanks to a remarkable book drive they conducted over recent weeks.

Alison Takenaka is a member of Endeavour’s strong PTSA, and has for many years involved herself in helping libraries continue their vital work.

It was through Friends of the Issaquah Library that she heard about the Book Shelf program, which donates books to families who might not otherwise be able to afford them, through the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank.

Book Shelf is the work of dedicated volunteer Ann Fletcher, who orders and organizes the books, and trains and schedules volunteers like Diane Lilly, Lesley Austin, Jacqueline Kelly, Kate McWiggins, Julie Ferris, Rosemary Fahey, Joseph Brendel, and Elia Saez, to collect and distribute them.

In a typical year, the groups distributed more than 1,800 books.

In 2007, 58 percent of those books were in English, 42 percent Spanish and bilingual (English and Spanish).

Seventy-five percent of the books were early literacy books and the remaining were books for older children.

“We heard that the food bank is always looking for books appropriate for young readers, educational resources,” Takenaka said. “So we knew the demand was there, in the community.”

It was then that Takenaka and the PTSA had the idea to combine a book donation program with their annual Book Fair, where parents buy discounted books from publisher Scholastic. This year, parents also bought a book, or a few, to donated to the food bank.

“Many parents and students brought in boxes of books from home too,” said school principal Kathy Connally. “We collected almost 500 books, which is just great.”

Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank patrons are encouraged to select one book per child per week, in order to build a collection of books, or “books shelf,” at home.

Families are also provided with information about library programs and services.

If you are interested in helping with the Book Shelf program, or have new or gently used books to donate, please contact Ann Fletcher at 425-392-3571 or e-mail her at fletcherann@msn.com.