Out With The Old, In With The New at Del Campo Book Drive

So far  librarian Fay Grundel's pursuit to collect donated used and unwanted books is already exceeding her expectations.

The librarian has collected more than 300, mostly coming from students who have read or grown too old for certain books, Grundel said.

The idea for a book drive, which is supported by Del Campo, was borne from conversations Grundel would have with students. The students would talk to her about the books they were reading. Not knowing about the books, the students would donate them to the library and as more students followed suit, Grundel was inspired.

"Why don't I just ask everybody to bring in books and everything we can use for the library, we're going to keep here and whatever we can't - because it's too young or nobody's reading it anymore - I'll have a book sale," Grundel said.

The book sale will take place August 6-10, the week before school starts, Grundel said, when students come to the school to pick up their school schedules.

"Hopefully that will generate some money," Grundel said. "I'm hoping this will be a yearly thing."

Grundel explained the library's financial resources diminished to next to nothing and the book drives could be a viable source for additional cash. Though she hasn't set an explicit goal she'd like to reach, Grundel will be giving away prizes to the top three classes. Those donations will take place in each second-period classroom.

"I don't care if it's Give A Mouse A Cookie or Captain Underpants, from back in the day, or if it's current books you're done with - bring them in," Grundel said.

She's not sure what the prize will be, maybe homemade brownies but she's welcome to ideas.

If the books work in the library they will stay there; otherwise, Grundel and the rest of the library staff will try to sell them. Anything that doesn't get sold she will take to the Sacramento Public Library Book Den.

"That's kind of like the last stop for books in Sacramento," Grundel said.

The majority of books donated so far consist of younger reading material. Books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Curious George are popular donations.

"Hopefully that means (the students) reading," Grundel said. "They're just not done with the current books as opposed to this is all they have and they don't read, because I don't want to hear that!" 

"I don't want to hear that high-schoolers don't read."

In fact, Grundel has a wish list of books she'd like for the library. Popular themes like the supernatural vampire genre, Hunger Games and the Eragon series do well. Another popular series students request is The Bluford Series, a collection of 18 novels set in a tough inner city Los Angeles high school. The books deal with issues like mystery, action and romance set against the struggles and concerns of students in grades six to 10.

As the drive draws to a close on Wednesday June 6, Grundel knows even the small amount of money she raises will be more than she can expect from budgeted resources.

"At least it's promoting literacy, because students will think about books," Grundel said. "I was hoping as I got books in, I can also see what kids are interested in, and I am."

The drive is open to students, parents and anyone from the community. Books can be dropped off inside the Del Campo library between normal school operating hours.

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