library volunteers, West Philadelphia Alliance for Children

Posted by on August 13, 2012

Volunteers sought to reopen school libraries

Dozens of Philadelphia public school libraries have closed because of lack of funding.  The West Philadelphia Alliance for Children is seeking to address this crisis by recruiting and training volunteers to reopen  libraries in West Philadelphia elementary schools.  WePAC has opened or re-opened twelve elementary school libraries in West and Southwest Philadelphia, with more scheduled for the upcoming school year, and still more on the waiting list.

WePAC, and its volunteers, see kindergarten through fourth grade classes on a regular schedule in the libraries, read stories to the students, work with the school to align library activities with the curriculum, have donated more than 36,000 books to those libraries, and circulate 2,500 books per month to students. School administrators report an increase in excitement about reading and books, improved academic performance, and enthusiastic responses from teachers about having a school library. One principal reported her belief that her school was raised out of failing status because of these literacy-based activities. While the use of volunteers to run libraries is not a substitute for having a professional librarian on a school’s staff, until schools find a way to add librarians, volunteers can fill part of the void left by their loss.

If you are interested in becoming a WePAC library volunteer at an elementary school in West Philadelphia, visit here.

http://www.wepac.org/

For more information, email David Florig at dave@wepac.org.