Middle School Book Drive Aims To Supplement School Libraries

The Oskaloosa Middle School has a drop box set up in the office for students and parents to bring quality used books that will be used by other students and help our  school libraries. (submitted image)

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Schools and parents often work hand in hand to help make sure kids have what they need to make the most of their education. The best part might be students helping students as well.

One set of parents, Kevin and Vicki Hladik, came up with a new way for the community to share its unused books with the students of the Oskaloosa Community.

During a recent Principles Parent Advisory Committee Meeting, Hladik “came up with the idea of trying to gather books that students had already previously read and had in their possession,” and not using anymore Hladik commented.

Finding a way to gather those books at the middle school, “especially in the winter months when we have a lot of indoor activities,” was the reason for Hladik building the collection box.  The sight of the collection box might spark some interest of the parents passing through the school. Hladik believes that it could help spark families to say, “Our family could help other families.”

“We all know that the foundation of a good education starts with reading. If you don’t read well, you can’t understand any of the subject matter that you’re trying to learn,” is Hladik’s belief in helping move this project forward. “We thought it really important to find some books the students would enjoy reading. Help the school supplement what they can provide in the library and just increase the interest level in reading.”

If you have books that you’re not sure what age group they best serve, either your child’s or your own, you can still donate them at the drop box at the middle school, and they will find their way to the appropriate grade level in the Oskaloosa School District.

Hladik noted, “This book drive is intended that any family can contribute quality books to the students at any age level.”

Hladik believes that the school systems does a good job of providing reading material to the students, “but we do think, anything we can do as parents to help the school district with their mission, we should help with.”

“This is just one small way we saw as an opportunity to be able to help the school district, help the teachers with their jobbing in teaching our children,” expressed Hladik.

Hladik says that in the particular genres that middle school students would like, “I’m a big Harry Potter fan,” laughs Hladik.

If you would like to donate, the collection box is in the Oskaloosa Middle School office, or you can send the books with your middle school student for deposit.