Written by Denise Gary
Photographs ©Denise Gary
What would you do if your kids’ school had no library? Well, if you were Jan Landis, Lynn Leih or Gail Promponas, you would take it upon yourself to create one. Recognizing that no school is complete without a library, these ladies set themselves to finding shelves and books to enrich the lives of the Paragon Science Academy students.
As a brand new charter school in Chandler, Arizona, Paragon lacked the money to build a library collection. This is typical of many charter schools, which receive far less governmental funding than public schools do. That leaves them scrambling to make up the difference. Most have very little, if any, funds to purchase books.
Library Committee Chairperson Jan Landis
One of the first things Library Committee Chairperson Jan Landis did was to submit a request to Kids Need to Read for books. We were thrilled to help out with such a worthy cause and were especially impressed that parents were leading the effort to provide a library for the school. The forty-four books KNTR sent to Paragon were the first to fill the school’s shelves. The library committee continued to seek out more books and to set up a catalog system.
KNTR Director Denise Gary with library committee members
Jan Landis, Lynn Leih and Gail Promponas
I had the fortunate pleasure of being invited to attend the Paragon Science Academy library grand opening this past March. It was exciting to see so many KNTR books throughout the library! I found another fun treasure tucked away on a shelf – a framed photograph I had taken previously of author J.S. Lewis with the KNTR books he had signed for the school.
Photo of author J.S. Lewis at Brilliant Sky with the
KNTR books he signed for Paragon.
Of course, there was a ribbon cutting! Middle School Principal Mr. Ridvan and Elementary School Principal Dr. Argin performed the honors.
Principals Mr. Ridvan and Dr. Argin cut the ribbon.
The kids were very excited to have a library. They swarmed all over the books, asking how many they could check out.
Jan Landis helps the kids check out books.
As soon as the students found the books they wanted, they sat down in all corners of the library and started reading straight away.
They were more interested in the books than the cookies set out on a table! (Yummy cookies – filled with chocolate!)
It was extremely gratifying to see the books being appreciated and fulfilling their purpose.
Books, kids and happiness – what a fantastic combination!
Thank you, Jan, Lynn and Gail, for inviting me to attend your grand opening on behalf of Kids Need to Read and its volunteers. It was an honor to be a part of your commitment to childhood literacy. Hopefully, other parents will be inspired by your success and work to build up their kids’ school libraries, as well.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of the wonderful books. I got tears in my eyes as I opened them, and then such a feeling of kindness. I really appreciate your efforts. – Jan Landis
