THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, March 20, 1996 TAG: 9603190114
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: EDUCATION
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
The worn, well-thumbed pages of some Hardy Elementary School books tell a story all their own.
``We need new books,'' school librarian Bettye Thomas said.
Never was that need more evident than in January, when Thomas moved the school library into its new home - four renovated classrooms in another part of the building.
So when the new library was dedicated with a ribbon cutting at Hardy's February PTA meeting, the organization kicked off a book-donation campaign. Scattered around the new library were 50 tiny flowerpots, each one holding a calico flower containing a title Thomas would like added to the library's shelves.
``We (libraries) always have good funding from the county,'' Thomas said. ``But it's nice to be able to go out and buy a book when we need it.''
So far, the PTA's Pick-a-Flower Book Project has netted the library 26 new books, ranging in price from $5 to $45. Parents, teachers and other adults donated every book - except one of the most expensive, ``Survivors: A New Vision Of Endangered Wildlife.''
At the suggestion of a student, teacher Donna Fontaine's fourth-graders dug deep into their pockets and piggy banks, pooling their funds to buy the book for the school library.
Rachel Howell chipped in the money her grandmother gives her for good grades on her report card.
Kenny Weeks, who had been saving his allowence money to buy a ring, postponed his purchase so he could add it to the book fund.
Several kids sacrificed snacks to buy the book.
``I get an allowence. But I saved my ice cream money for a week and put it toward the book,'' Antonio Uzzle said. ``I didn't mind.''
The $45 book purchased by Fontaine's 27 students will have a bookplate dedicating the book to all children who love animals.
Fontaine said a group of three students - Emily Cook, Christy West and Kenny Weeks - picked that book because of the animals.
``The price is a bit high for a parent,'' Fontaine said. ``We thought it would be easier for a whole class to donate a more expensive book.''
Both Fontaine and Thomas believe buying the book will prove to be a lesson in itself for students, teaching them the importance of sharing and making them feel more responsible for library books.
``It makes me feel happy to know we are buying a book someone else can read and learn from,'' student Natalie Nelson said. ``It's important because we are investing in people's future.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by ALLISON T. WILLIAMS
Emily Cook, front, and Christy West were among the fourth-graders
who chipped in to buy an expensive library book.
by CNB