Today I volunteered for an organization called WePAC (West Philadelphia Alliance for Children).  As a woman with a Doctorate in Reading/Writing/Literacy, this was right up my alley.  According to their website, WePAC offers two volunteer-driven programs, each designed to enhance literacy skills for young students:  School Library Opening/Staffing (read aloud to classes, engage students in literacy activities, catalog books, check them in and out, and maintain the library as a welcoming environment) and Library Buddies (working one-on-one with students on literacy skills through games, reading aloud, and activities, typically in the library setting, during literacy instruction time).

My mission today was to help build a library at the  Global Leadership Academy West (4601 W. Girard Avenue, Philadelphia).  Located in West Philadelphia, Global Leadership Academy serves approximately 700 students in kindergarten through eighth grade in a retrofitted industrial building.  They have been there for many years and they have a “library” but it was mainly used for students doing research on the computers.  None of the books on the shelves were being used!

Thus, enters WePAC.  Today’s goal was to continue categorizing all of the books.  I spent a few hours this afternoon putting stickers on the bindings and writing the type of book (E for Easy Reader) and the first three letters of the author, so the books can be shelved in alphabetical order.  There was also some weeding out, removing books that were old/torn/dated.  Next, the books will be shelved.  Then, they will have to come up with a system in which the kids can take books out and bring them home – hopefully this will be an electronic system!  Finally, WePAC will staff the library with volunteers.  They hope to have the library up and running by November.  This will be their 15th library that they are running.  What a great organization with an important mission!!