Willow Glen Resident
Education
Photograph by Vicki Thompson
Extra Hands: Volunteers at Booksin library help sort and reshelf books and work with students in the school's library. Their help is essential to keeping the process running smoothly.
Booksin library's busy volunteers keep the book circulation flowing
By Mayra Flores De Marcotte
With a weekly circulation of more than 1,700 books and an average shelving job of 350 books per day, the Booksin Elementary library could not function without the help and dedication of 32 parents. "The library is a physical symbol of literacy and education," says principal Sharon Roddick. "We want students to have a positive experience when they walk in, and we wouldn't be able to do it without our volunteers."
April marks the library's first anniversary; with approximately 700 students enrolled at the school, the library is never empty.
"The library is a living, functioning environment every day," Roddick says. "From the housekeeping angle, it takes extra hands and volunteers to keep things in order."
Booksin's library media assistant Leslie Baker works 20 hours a week, doing everything from shelving to computer work.
"I want children to realize that there's resources outside of the classroom," Baker says. "I want them to take advantage and expand their minds. They can still check out books to read every night."
The process would be difficult without parents helping.
"I love my volunteers," Baker says. "I appreciate them."
As an ex-Booksin parent, Baker understands the critical role these individuals play and how their efforts affect the students at the school.
"A parent giving a few hours a week is different from a teacher, who is there every day," Baker says. " It's an incredible example to the students as to what it means to be helpful, kind and cooperative. The volunteers are here for the children, to serve the children."
Some volunteers contribute half an hour a week; others have set times they come in. A few volunteers drop in when they have a free moment.
Bonnie Jean Brekke has been volunteering at her first-grader's school for two years.
"It's fun," Brekke says. "My kids can see that I'm here and involved."
Since the closure of the Willow Glen Library, Brekke says, it's harder for children to find books to read, which makes Booksin's library even more important.
Fifth-grade parent Christy Lawrence has been volunteering for two years. To Lawrence the library fills in the gray areas of education.
"The kids do well both socially and academically," Lawrence says, "and the library gets an extra set of hands."
Lawrence wants to set an example for her children, who she hopes will regard volunteering as an important part of life.
Sue Chan, a fourth-grade parent and volunteer since 1999, says volunteering also adds to the students' overall relationship with adults.
"It's a great feeling to help out," Chan says. "It motivates the kids when parents volunteer. They see their parents here and feel secure that there will always be someone there to help them out."
Providing that sense of security is just as important as showing the students that their education matters to parents, says kindergarten parent and new volunteer Amanda Kuder.
"It shows my daughter that her education is important and that books are especially important," Kuder says, " and it's important to be here."
