More ‘free little libraries’ coming to Fresno. Here’s how you can donate books
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Hi there! It’s Julianna here, and this is the April 25 edition of the Ed Lab’s newsletter.
You’ve probably seen one before: what’s colloquially known as a “free little library.” They can take different shapes and sizes but more often than not, they’re like a mailbox with free books for anyone to take or leave. I pass by a few when I walk to get groceries or coffee in my Tower District neighborhood (and even scored a copy of “Normal People” by Sally Rooney from one of them!).
Soon, more of these lending libraries are coming to Fresno, thanks to an initiative from the office of Councilmember Tyler Maxwell. The “On the Same Page” literature campaign, which launched a week ago, comes with the promise of dozens of new libraries to be installed around his district that covers east central Fresno – at least one per neighborhood, Maxwell said.
I spoke with the councilmember Monday about what inspired the campaign.
“The goal,” he said, “is to ensure that no child in District 4 has to walk more than five minutes to access free books.”
“Not everybody lives close by to a library,” he added, “or has transportation to a library. Not all the children in our district are enrolled in a school that has a library on campus.”
In addition to installing the new lending libraries – each of which has been hand-decorated by Fresno State art students with designs inspired by their own favorite childhood books – Maxwell is also coordinating a book drive to help stock them. He’s aiming for 1,000 books in 30 days with a May 18 deadline. Local nonprofit Reading Heart has agreed to match those donations up to 1,000.
The book drive is accepting books for a range of reading levels, but is particularly looking for books written for young readers in Kindergarten through third grade.
“That’s a really critical period to begin learning, and have access to literature,” Maxwell said, “so we’re encouraging folks that have those kinds of materials (to) please donate those”
The book drive also welcomes books written in any language. Maxwell mentioned Spanish, Hmong and Punjabi as some of the main languages spoken in addition to English in his district.
For those interested in donating, there are drop-off locations at the following places, according to Maxwell’s office:
Vision View Business Center, Suite #212: 4974 E. Clinton Ave., Fresno
Fresno City Hall, 1st Floor Lobby: 2600 Fresno St., Fresno
Fresno State, University Student Union: 5280 N Jackson Ave.
Fresno State, Lynda and Stewart Resnick Student Union: 5244 N Jackson Ave.
Fresno State, Phebe Conley Art Gallery: 5225 N Backer Ave.
Fashion Fair (Indoor next to Baskin Robbins): 645 E Shaw Ave.
Campus Pointe (Inside Maya Cinemas): 3090 E Campus Pointe Drive
Legends Comics and Games: 5412 N Blackstone Ave.
You can also contact Councilmember Maxwell’s district office at (559) 621-8000 or District4@fresno.gov to inquire about donations.
District 4 residents can expect to see these libraries go up in their own neighborhood by mid-May once the book drive wraps up, Maxwell said. Volunteers from the Iron Workers Union, Local 155 chapter are installing them, and more volunteer “little librarians” – i.e. community members who live by the lending libraries – will make sure they stay stocked.
Are there any free little libraries in your neighborhood? Let me know in an email to jmorano@fresnobee.com! And be sure to send me any titles you recommend I keep an eye out for in the libraries in my neighborhood.
HERE’S THE LATEST FROM THE EDUCATION LAB
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The union president called the concerns about a strike from the superintendent “absurd.”
Compromise unlikely in dispute over Sanger school buses. ‘There’s only so much we can do’
Parents and staff say the school district has yet to resolve their concerns about bus transportation for all students.
Fresno vice principal on leave after comments about ‘ghetto girls’ and ‘Section 8 people’
A school district spokesperson said they are investigating the video in which the CA vice principal calls law enforcement on the girls
He’s (probably) Sanger Unified’s next superintendent. Not everyone is happy about it
The teachers union said the district chose from four internal candidates to replace the retiring superintendent.
New program lets Fresno Unified students enroll in Fresno State automatically. What to know
Fresno Unified students could get a Bulldog ID card in 9th grade and access perks like tutoring through the guaranteed admissions program.
MORE FRESNO-AREA EDUCATION NEWS
K-12 Education
Three Clovis Unified teachers participated in the 127th Boston Marathon earlier this month, according to a news release.
Granite Ridge Intermediate track and cross country coach Joanna Vitale, Clovis Elementary Special Education Instructional Assistant Lydia Samuelson, and Cedarwood Elementary third-grade teacher Gayle Pellizzer all ran in the famed race.
Three teams from Clovis Unified are advancing to the National History Day competition in Maryland this June, according to news release from the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools’ office.
The teams are from Alta Sierra Middle School and Clovis North High School.
The competition involves a research project, presented in a range of forms, from a paper to a documentary.
Higher Education
Fresno City College will host the Women in Engineering 2023 conference for young women in high school this Friday, according to a media release.
58 students from area high schools are slotted to participate in hands-on activities that will introduce them to STEM career pathways, including a water purification challenge.
Fresno City College’s celebration of Asian American Heritage Month is well underway after a kick-off event earlier this month on April 10.
Several events — including a workshop on Filipino arts and culture April 25, a panel on the Sikh American community April 27, and AsianFest April 29 — are scheduled to close out the month and continue celebrating the Year of the Rabbit, according to a news release.
Visit fresnocitycollege.edu/campus-life/events-and-places/asian-american-month.html to see the full calendar.
Fresno Pacific University received $750,000 in state grants to help train more teachers in the Valley, according to a news release.
The grants, awarded by the California Commission for Teacher Credentialing, will fund the consolidation of FPU’s teacher credentialing program from five years down to four.
“It’s exciting that FPU students who want to become teachers will be able to save time and money, ultimately beginning their careers a year sooner!” said Anna James Miller, director of grant funding support and foundations relations.
STILL WANT MORE EDUCATION NEWS? HERE’S WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING
Julianna’s List
How ‘Abbott Elementary’ helps teachers process the absurd realities of their job
“There are also topics the show hasn’t touched on, like high-stakes standardized tests, which don’t always line up with the curriculum teachers are supposed to follow.” | NPR
A Chicago Suburb Stopped Ticketing Students. But It Won’t Stop Pursuing a 3-Year-Old Case Over Missing AirPods.
“The city’s prosecution of a former student comes as the state considers a ban on ticketing students at school. The case is headed to a jury trial.” | ProPublica & The Chicago Tribune
University of Michigan pushes back against graduate student strike
The university’s graduate student employees went on strike Mar. 29, demanding a 60% pay raise and better healthcare benefits. | Bridge Michigan
Lasherica’s List
What Can Schools Do When Older Students Can’t Read?
What happens if kids don’t master basic foundational reading skills by third grade? And what can schools do to make sure they do? | Education Week
‘Don’t Say Period’ Bill Is Latest Example of States’ Efforts to Limit Sex Education
Experts say these new efforts run counter to research on effective sex and health education. | Education Week
Using a Curriculum Rich in Arts, History, and Science Led to Big Reading Improvements
More school districts are interested in using reading programs designed to build students’ broad knowledge about the world by focusing their reading and writing on specific topics in social studies, science, and the arts. | Education Week
That concludes our newsletter. Don’t forget to email your book recommendations! Or you could always find me and my Ed Lab colleagues on Twitter and Instagram.
