Mesa Library Rises from the Ashes

We are so pleased to have played a role in restocking Mesa Elementary’s library after it was destroyed by arson in September 2010.

Some 20,000 books, as well as their computers, furniture and supplies were all lost.

Over the last five months we shipped thousands of new and used children's books, including books generously donated by authors Jane Yolen, Mo Willems and Norton Juster, and purchased Navajo-English children’s books that were specifically requested by the school librarian.

The school in Farmington, New Mexico recently celebrated the opening of its new library with a visit from children’s book authors Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce, the authors of the popular "Magic Tree House" series. They personally donated 500 copies of their books.


























Here is a note from Mesa's principal.

Hi Mr. Mazor,

Here are just two pictures of our new library. It is beautiful with all the new books. Our librarian hosted a recent Family Literacy Night. Great things are happening here at Mesa. Thank you again for all you've done. We are truly blessed because of friends like you.

With Respect,

Pandora Mike
Principal
Mesa Elementary, Farmington, NM

Thanks to the efforts of a number of organizations and individuals, Mesa’s library is now filled with 11,000 new books and offers all its students an inviting room filled with wonder, ready to ignite the imagination.

Books Bring Smiles

The children at Belcher Elementary in Chicopee, MA, enjoyed their new children’s books.





So did their librarian!

Bound for Kosovo

Reader to Reader’s student worker Anna Quan helps load computers bound for the Fisnik Matoshi Library in Pristina, Kosovo.

The project helps the the Gjergj Fishta School in Pristina create a library space where students feel welcome and are inspired to read. The goal is to fill the library with books in both Albanian and English, and provide the students with computers, English-language software, and school supplies.

A Light We Can Count On

Dear Reader to Reader,

With all the pressure on teachers from cuts in budgets, your box of Twilight prizes was a very important boost here. It really means a lot to know Reader to Reader supports this school. Teachers are using Reader to Reader mentors daily. And, without prompting, all English teachers give your program credit for raising our reading scores on state tests. Thank you for your work. Most of all, thank you for sticking by us for all these years. The future for teaching seems bleak, but your donations and your positive influence are a light we can count on.

Thank you,

Carla Clauschee
Librarian
Navajo Pine High School
Navajo, NM

Books for Bingo!

Dear David:

I want to again thank you and Reader to Reader for your organization's continued support of Memorial Elementary School. I truly appreciate the generous donation of new and gently used books for our school. These books will be used as prizes for our Bingo for Books event. This event is one in a series of events that Memorial Elementary School conducts in March when we celebrate the joy of reading.

I look forward to Reader to Reader’s continued support in the future. Thank you for being such a wonderful partner in education with Memorial Elementary School.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey P. Udall
Principal
Memorial Elementary School
West Springfield, MA

Haiti School Plans Unveiled

Architects Andy Grogan and Aelan Tierney of Kuhn Riddle Architects show their drawings to Hope of Haiti project director, Haeinn Woo, for the modular classrooms which will form the school to be built for the children living in the tent city in Petionville, Haiti.
None of the children living in the tent city currently attend school. And when plans for the school were announced more than 200 children’s names were placed on a waiting list the first day.

The cinder block stand-alone classrooms can be built individually and clustered together to form the school.

Each classroom will cost roughly $6,500 including the land and Reader to Reader is fundraising to buy the building materials with the goal of erecting the first several classrooms this summer, so that some of the children can start school in October.


We are grateful to Kuhn Riddle Architects for the generous donation of their architectural services.

Reader to Reader's First Computer Lab Built in Ghana Opens

Dear Reader to Reader,

The computers and the additional books have arrived in Ghana. The computers have been set up in the computer lab, and the kids are already learning how to use them. The principal has sent pictures of the kids working with them. We are all very much appreciative.

Thanks,

Robert Baafi
On behalf of Eno Boanimah Memorial Academy
Kasoa, Ghana



Reader to Reader is pleased to assist Eno Boanimah Memorial Academy, Kasoa, Ghana, and Akim Oda Secondary School, Akim Oda, Ghana set up resource centers that include libraries and computer labs.