School Needs Community's Help to Purchase New Books

- Information received from a Wells Middle School press release

needs $4000 for its library. The Wells Middle School Library Media Center needs your donations to purchase quality award winning books, books of high interest, and books to support classroom projects and assignments.

We need books to engage students and encourage lifelong learners and are asking for help to meet California School Library Standards of 28 books per student. We are currently at 12.6 books per student and the average age of the books is 13 years old. One book per student at a middle school should be added yearly to the collection. That would require $10,000-$15,000 annually to keep the library collection updated and relevant.

“There currently are no funds from the state or federal budget to fill our library with the books our students and teachers need,” said Sandy Yee, the school’s library media technician. The library plays a critical role in increasing literacy and test scores among students, as well as contributing to the lifelong joy of reading.

The library is now looking to parents, community members and businesses for help in raising the much needed funds. They are participating in two new online fundraising program called Funds4Books, sponsored by Mackin Educational Resources, and S.O.S. Library from Bound To Stay Bound Books. 100% of your contribution goes directly into the Wells Middle School account. If you donate $10 dollars, Wells will get $10 to purchase new books ready to be shelved and checked out.

To participate, donors go to www.funds4books.com, and log in to Well’s Middle School’s personal Funds4Books page with the code 48f8. From there they can donate via credit card, echeck or check. For those without computer access or a credit card, the library will accept “Funds4Books” checks. Donors can also go to www.btsb.com/sosl/wellsmiddleschool to look at our wish list of books and make a direct donation online. The fundraisers end December 16, 2011.

“We are so excited this new donation program is available for schools to raise much-needed money to purchase books and other learning materials,” said Dr. Kevin Grier, Wells Middle School Principal. 

"The fact that 100 percent of every donation comes right to the library is truly amazing and sets it far apart from other fundraising programs and book fairs. It doesn’t require staff or volunteer time, and all the books are labeled and shipped for free."

“If everyone gives a little, we can reach our goal of $4000,” said Yee. “I can’t wait to see how excited the students become when the new books they requested and want to read arrive.”