To date, we have collected over 3,000 books for the this library, mostly for the children’s section. Why?
Many reasons. The first is that the children’s book section was extremely small before we started, only a few shelves on one stack. Today that section is nearly filled. One area of high demand is for graphic novels with positive content. The library’s need for quality books and content was huge when we started. Large sections of the library were filled with books that were outdated, and many shelves stood empty in all sections.
The librarians told us stories of children and adults coming to them for books that address life-issues, but they didn’t have books that would help their clients. One young girl came in with her younger siblings and wanted a book about how to deal with a drug-addicted mother.
The city of Chester has one of the highest poverty rates in the nation, and it’s schools are in serious trouble. There is talk that the entire city’s schools may be shut down. At present half of the children in the city are educated through homeschool or cyber-charter schools because the schools are dangerous and the education level so low. This is just one reason that we are doing what we can to help the only library in the city of Chester, by providing books and volunteer help. It is not nearly enough.
Chester needs additional libraries, in areas where gangs do not allow kids to cross unseen boundaries without serious consequences. The J. Lewis Crozer Library is on the edge of town, in an area that is safe, but not safely accessible by public transportation. The books we donate go to the Chester library, but fully three-quarters of the school-age residents cannot safely take transportation there without repercussions. The library’s desire is to open satellite children’s branches. Contact us if you wish to donate toward buildings, or own a building in Chester that could be used as a satellite children’s library branch.
