In September 2022, I embarked on creating a small class lending library for an eighth grade English class I was co-teaching at Summit Public School–Tamalpais in Richmond, California. The entire eighth grade was required to read at least one book containing two hundred pages and write a report about the book. However, there was a problem. The school did not have a library and the closest public library was nearly two miles away using public transportation. Many families worked multiple jobs making it difficult for them to take their child to a public library. Nor could some families afford to purchase a book at a book store. The students needed a library to not just help them complete the book report assignment, but give them the opportunity to improve their literacy and build their interest in reading.

How could this be accomplished when there was no money in the school budget or space for book storage?

I started with asking family and friends for any books they did not need anymore. I accepted any donations. We needed books for every reading level. It was a small amount but it was a start. This blog is a chronicle of how I started the project, how it is currently doing, and where I would like the project go.

Please join me on this journey to create a library.