Librarians are natural advocates for literacy. I have yet to meet a librarian who does not like to read. I am passing on my love of books and reading to my son. I started reading to him when he was a newborn, and he loved looking at the pictures and hearing the stories. Four and a half years later, he still loves books and having someone read to him. A few months ago, I took the day off to spend time with him. I let him pick something fun for us to do. I thought he would choose the Aquarium or to a toy store, but he wanted to go to a bookstore. We went of course, and added to our ever-increasing collection of children’s books.
While my son and I can access books easily with a quick trip to the bookstore, the library, or a few clicks of our mouse, we know that is not the case for everyone in the world. So, in the spirit of service and promoting literacy, the library sponsoring a children’s book drive for a library in Botswana.
Here is what we need:
1) New or gently used preschool to 4th grade reading level books
2) $500 to cover shipping costs to New Orleans and Botswana.
Collection boxes are at the reception desks at Bldg 3 and Bldg 561, the LRC, and the Student Common at Bldg 1. Make donations online: https://rmufoundation.org/affect-healthcare-change/ (Select a Fund: Learning Resource Center).
Not sure what books to donate? Find a list of suggestions here: https://lrc.rm.edu/african-library-project-resources/
Our goal is to collect 1,000 books by March 15th, 2019. We appreciate your help!
Finally, I could not end this blog post without a few good book suggestions. Check out these fun Halloween reads:
• Do Zombies Dream of Undead Sheep? : A Neuroscientific View of the Zombie Brain by Timothy Verstynen and Bradley Voytek. The authors combine zombie pop culture with neuroscience as they attempt to diagnose zombism as a neurological condition by examining the behavior of zombies in film and literature, from Night of the Living Dead (dir. George Romero; 1968) to The Walking Dead (dir. Frank Darabont; 2010-). Readers with an interest in physical therapy may enjoy Verstynen and Voytek’s analysis of zombies’ lumbering gait, while those with a speech language pathology affinity may be interested to read their analysis of zombies’ language abilities (or lack thereof), but anyone wanting to learn more about or refresh their knowledge of neuroscience will enjoy this book!
• The Hot Zone: The Terrifying True Story of the Origins of the Ebola Virus, by Richard Preston. A highly infectious, deadly virus from the central African rain forest suddenly appears in the suburbs of Reston, VA. There is no cure. In a few days, 90 percent of its victims are dead. The US mobilizes a secret military SWAT team of soldiers and scientists to stop the outbreak of this exotic “hot” virus.
• Peeps, by Scott Westerfield. Interested in parasitology? Peeps stands for “Parasite Positive.” This novel starts as a typical teen vampire book. However, all even numbered chapters discuss a variety of parasites, proving that fact is stranger than fiction.
Ashley Bassett, MLIS, MS, AHIP
Assistant Medical Librarian
