Right to Read Week becomes a lesson in giving, community service for Winesburg students

  • By Dave Mast
  • March 8, 2010
  • 831
                        
For 168 children at Winesburg Elementary, Right to Read Week has taken on a whole new meaning this year. Because of major cuts in library spending, each Holmes County branch is being asked to come up with $25,000 for operating expenses for the coming year, or face being terminated from the county’s library branch system. In order to support their library, the students of Winesburg have agreed to incorporate their Right to Read Week experience into supporting a cause, as they enter Save Our Library Right to Read Week March 8-12. While the reading portion takes place this week, the real action began last week, when students were asked to bring in loose change to support their library’s fundraising efforts. Yes, the fun events that are normally associated with Right to Read Week will be present. Dr. Seuss Day, hat day, silly socks day, crazy hair day and even dress like a teacher day are all present and accounted for. But this year, the focus of education is on fun and something meaningful. “So often we get caught up in creating a Right to Read Week that offers kids plenty of fun things to do, activities, and, of course, reading, but we figured why not involve them in something that is important and meaningful, as well as fun and educational,” said Jill Roll, Winesburg Elementary kindergarten teacher. Roll said the connection between the library and the schools is a close one anyway, so it was not a huge stretch to create a Right to Read Week in which students could gain invaluable experience in the art of community service right along with reading and learning. Cathy Compan, Winesburg branch librarian, said that for years, students have been using the library facility on a regular basis. Once every month, each class visits the library together, where they all can check out books. She noted that the Winesburg Library branch is the most widely used branch in Holmes County, with patrons checking out more than 72,000 items in 2009, 17,000 more than both Berlin and Walnut Creek. In the year 2000, Winesburg Library received four computers from the Bill and Linda Gates Foundation. During the second phase of the business mogul’s generosity, Gates’ foundation did a survey and found that Winesburg was still severely lacking based on the use from its population, and the number of people who had access to the Internet or a computer. “They came back and told us based on the amount of people who had access to computers in their homes in our area, we needed 10 more computers,” said Compan. “We will be getting four more and six laptops, which is wonderful because our community can use them. Not all families can afford to get a computer, and we are a place they can come and utilize what we have to offer.” When the library hours for all branches were cut in Holmes County, it became apparent that the school’s class visitations would be in jeopardy. Because of the bond that has been created over the years, Compan made sure that wasn’t an option by volunteering her time to make sure the library was open during the hours the school needs to visit. It is a working relationship like that which made the decision to gear Right to Read Week around the Save Our Library theme. With Miss Cathy, as the kids like to call Compan, having been the librarian at Winesburg since 1992, she is now seeing second generation children using the facility. “For many of our Amish children, Cathy is their first real contact with the English language,” said Roll. “Her story times have played a big role in many of their lives. There has been such a neat relationship between Miss Cathy and the kids here at Winesburg over the years that she is like one of the teachers. She has created such a happy, pleasant atmosphere for them when they visit.” After just four days, and with six more to go, the students have responded to the challenge set forth during Right to Read Week, having accumulated $521.70 for the cause. With large jars of pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters set up near the giant sign promoting Save Our Library, the 168 students have joined to make a mighty dent in the fundraising for the library. Roll said that the end of the challenge will bring a winning class, and they will hand out extra recesses, Popsicles, movie and popcorn day and other treats to the class that brings in the most change. Each student in the winning classroom will also receive a Scholastic book. And while winning and raising money have accompanied the reading and education, the children are receiving more than ever from this Right to Read campaign. “This is a real purpose for the kids,” said Roll. “It’s close to home, and they can see where their money is going, and it’s going for something that they cherish and something that touches us all in this community.” With the kids getting behind the library 100 percent, it would seem that they would be the ones benefitting the most from the branch, but Compan said that adult check-outs are three times as many as youth at Winesburg. “More and more adults are using the facility as economic times continue to be rough,” said Compan. “We feel that we offer a tremendous service to our community, and it’s been a wonderful relationship with the school and the people of this area.” Obviously, the kids think so, too.


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