Book Giveaways Target Literacy Issues

For Release - February 10, 2009

GALLUP— The University of New Mexico-Gallup wants local kids to read more – and they’re even willing to give free books to make sure that happens.

The college held two recent initiatives which, judging by their success, bode well for similar events in the future.

Last fall, the Transitional Studies program sponsored a book give-away through the college’s reading classes at the branch and the North campus. UNM-Gallup’s Student Senate loaned a hand, hosting holiday dinners at the branch, at the North campus and at Zuni to which the cost of admission was a couple of juvenile or children’s books. The books were then bundled according to reading level, age appropriateness, theme and language, and distributed through the department’s developmental reading classes.

“Despite receiving more books than anticipated, requests for bundles surpassed the supply,” said Jayme McMahon, administrative assistant for Transitional Studies.

Another event, held at the Zuni campus last month, also underscored the potential of the program to increase literacy in this region. On February 12, dozens of locals gathered for the first-ever Book Extravaganza – so named by the Zuni High School College Success class – during which more than 700-plus books for infants, children, juveniles and adults were offered free. The books were donated by Half Price Bookstore in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cindy McFadden of Loveland, Ohio, Baker’s Dozen Day Care and Abigail Backer of Plainfield, Ind., and UNM-Gallup’s Title III.

“Entire families began showing up at 5:30 and picking out books,” said Erica Baker, Title III Activities Director/Visiting Lecturer Transitional Studies. “Some families took home boxes of books, and others sat down on the chairs and began reading to their children right on the spot. By 7 p.m., many of the books were gone and several requests were made to have another similar book fair.”

Both McMahon and Baker say they will definitely host similar events in the future.

“This is a project that has the potential for being a successful annual event that not only spotlights the campus’s interest in the education needs within our region, but also increases literacy awareness and reading levels within the UNM Gallup campus community,” McMahon said.