Meeting with Community & Business Development Manager of Bethesda Barnes and Noble
We met with Rebecca Maguire, Community & Business Development Manager at Barnes and Noble Bethesda, Maryland store.
We discussed community reading events, summer reading initiatives and the importance of print reading logs.
This September Velocity of Books is hosting Gareth Hinds at Barnes and Noble. In addition to the amazing Gareth Hinds, we will also have music, games, prizes, as well as mystery guests.
Please check back for dates and times.
contributions
Donate Now to make a difference
Jack and Julian Thompson are dedicating their lives to make a difference.
They've met with leaders of organizations throughout the US and Canada to discuss ways to promote literacy.
Public Library Niagra Falls, Canada
Glenallan Elementary School Gets Ready To Become A Summer Library
Glenallan Elementary School prepares to host students at their summer library.
In preparation for thousands of children using the school as a library this summer, Glenallan is bringing in the books.
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Sponsors
Thank you to our corporate sponsors:
Amazon
Real Estate Search and Sale
The Washington Post
Nationwide Mortgage
Wheaton Midas
Gareth Hinds
Tom Doherty Associates
Maryland Carpet and Title
Main Street Settlements
Westfield Wheaton
Groovetown Lounge
VisionCraft
Rockville Kiwanis
Silver Spring - Takoma Park Thunderbolts
Bethesda BigTrain
TD Bank
Robert's Oxygen
The Puppet Co.
Chuck Levins
The Crimestoppers
Solar Nails
British Swim School
Spidersmart Learning Center
WFT Engineering
New Prime Fitness
About Velocity of Books
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Please join us in raising money to distribute books.
Velocity of Books:
Our goal is to promote literacy through the collection and distribution of books.
The collection of the books comes from individual donations, churches, other non-profits, book swap stations and book swap events.
The books are distributed to numerous non-profit organizations, schools, literacy programs, and individuals.
Some of the organizations we help are:
1. Reach Out and Read- A program in which we provide books for medical professionals to give parents, when they are teaching the parents how to teach the kids to read),
2. National Center for Children and Families. They have a library on-site. We also provide book for families who are transitioning back into permanent housing. After they were homeless or nearly homeless, the families have few possessions. We work to give them a variety of books, so that they will truly have books of interest to the reader.
3. Homeless Children's Playtime project. This program helps to ensure that homeless kids have access to books. What a great escape for these kids and essential that they have the exposure to the books, so that they don't lag behind their peers. When they read more, they'll be less likely to perpetuate the chain of poverty. Empowering!
4. Mary's Center. This is a program which provides medical services to pregnant women and young children. I met them when I donated books through Reach Out and Read. Reach Out and Read only takes new/ newer books for infants through age 5. I collect all books and Mary's Center is happy to take all I have. Many children stop reading as they get older. A significant part of the problem is not having constant access to books of interest.
5. Prisons. Essential that prisoners come out better educated. It is hard for many of them to get jobs when they get out of prison. I heard last night that 1/4 of prisoners are repeat offenders. Many commit crimes purposefully to get food and shelter.
6. Some of the examples of individuals who receive books may be children who have limited to no books in their home or home bound adults . Many of the home bound adults find our program through community village programs. http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/ADS/Villages/Villages.html
7. We distribute books to the entire student population at some schools and are working to put book swap stations up at more schools. There are still students without a single book at home and this is an effective way to get books into the hands of students.
Future:
We are planning on getting book mobiles on the road. Many library systems think that their brick and mortar libraries are reaching the community, but they are truly out of touch with the less literate communities. Many individuals don't have the time or transportation to get to the libraries.
Our book mobiles will be giving books away. We will not be a library. There won't be late fees. Many people need books that they can own, as it makes a magical connections. You should see their faces when they get a book and they don't have to pay for it or give it back. There is great awe. Sometimes there is trepidation as though they think there is a catch.