Tulsa World: A novel idea

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A novel idea
A school librarian is sponsoring a book fair so every student can have one of his or her own.

Librarian Carol Hughes uses a doll to help tell stories to students including Sharmina Cherry, 5, at Hawthorne Elementary School on Tuesday. Hughes is trying to raise $2,000 to buy a book for every child at the school during its two-week book fair. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World

By SARA PLUMMER World Staff Writer
Published: 11/13/2009 2:21 AM
Last Modified: 11/13/2009 4:49 AM

Carol Hughes believes that a book can make a difference.

Hughes, the library media specialist at Hawthorne Elementary School, wants every student at the school to take home a book by the end of next week.

Her goal is to raise $2,000, which would cover the cost of all 470 students at Hawthorne's getting a book valued at less than $5 from the school's book fair, which ends Nov. 20.

Hughes had raised $450 by Monday, so 44 students were randomly selected to go to the book fair in the library and choose a book.

"They were very excited," she said. "Kids are all coming up and asking me, 'When do I get a book?' "

This is the first year Hughes has been a librarian at Hawthorne, 1105 E. 33rd St. North, but she has been a librarian at Title I schools for 12 years.

Ninety-eight percent of the students at Hawthorne qualify for the free or reduced-price lunch program, Principal Lynnette Dixon said.

"Many of our parents can't afford to buy books on their own," she said. "We're getting these books in the kids' hands because a lot of them don't have books at home."

It's important to get students from low-income homes reading early and often, Hughes said.

"Kids in poverty are disadvantaged, not because they are in poverty, but because of their lack of reading material," she said.

Getting to choose their own book is exciting for the students, Hughes said.

"If they're excited, they'll read it," she said.

"Kids are pretty much kids. If they have the opportunity, they'll take it."

It's been about two years since the school has had a book fair, Dixon said. She's thrilled with Hughes' work to get each child a book.

"The more they read, the better readers they become," she said, adding that she's noticed that Hughes' push to get students reading more is paying off. "Kids are accessing the library more, checking out books more."

The school also hosts monthly literacy nights and is always seeking adults to be reading buddies to students at the elementary school.

In addition to the book fair, the students will get to take home three more books through a matching grant from the Reading is Fundamental program in the spring, Hughes said.

"The kids are directly benefiting from this," she said. "This means a lot to them."

It means a lot to Hughes, too.

"I really feel like this is my calling," she said.

For more

For more about the book fair project or to donate, call Hawthorne Elementary School at 925-1340 or e-mail Carol Hughes at hugheca@tulsaschools.org.

Sara Plummer 581-8465
sara.plummer@tulsaworld.com By SARA PLUMMER World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment owen, Tulsa (11/13/2009 4:36:15 PM) Wonderful project.
	Report Comment Thunder196, Tulsa (11/13/2009 4:45:03 PM) Sounds like everyone will win with this one. The students, the school, the teachers, and most of all society. These children are our future, they deserve a helping hand.
	Report Comment 2ndjoyce, BA (11/13/2009 8:26:31 PM) Carol is now my hero. Why? Because I've thought about doing this for years.... but Carol is actually doing it. Kudos to you, Carol. You have inspired me to get off my chair and make it happen at another school. If enough of us do it, every child in the city, maybe in the state will have a book they can call their own.
	Report Comment Proud Muslim, Tulsa: Coolest place in the world (almost) (11/13/2009 8:31:12 PM) Thank you, Ms. Hughes!

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