Last year three little red book boxes popped up in the neighborhoods of Holbrook in hopes of inspiring more reading among the residents from the young to old.
The point person on the neighborhood book box project is Holbrook Junior High School’s Career and Technical Education Teacher Joy Burroughs who also serves as the student council advisor. “Last year, Yvonne Larson, a community member and parent, brought the idea of the neighborhood book boxes to the student council,” said Burroughs.
The council thought it was a great idea and Burroughs was able to find two longtime Holbrook residents to build the boxes, Lester James and Ed Fischer. Holbrook City Manager Randy Sullivan thought it was a great idea and had the boxes installed at the corners of Erie Street and First Avenue; Buffalo Street and 10th Avenue; and Anita Drive and East Carlos Avenue. “We painted them red to look more like the little red schoolhouse,” said Burroughs.
The rules for the boxes are simple. Take a book, enjoy the book, keep the book, put it back or give it as a gift and if one wants, they can put books in the boxes or donate them to Burroughs at the school. There are books for young and old, fiction and non-fiction. There is no cost, proving that some of the best things in life are free.
Burroughs said that 65 percent of all fourth graders in the United States are reading below their grade level. She hopes by bringing books into the communities and homes, kids will be more inspired to read.
A teacher for 27 years with 22 of them being spent in the Holbrook School District, Burroughs said there are times she comes across a book that she read to her students in years gone by. “It makes me happy to think that a child would read that book again,” said Burroughs. “I feel that the book boxes have been very successful.”
Looking forward, Burroughs said she would love to see more boxes built so that they could put one up in Woodruff, Sun Valley and Indian Wells as well as several more around Holbrook, including the swimming pool and splash pad. “The parents have told me they love the idea of having books available,” said Burroughs.
The only thing holding back more boxes are people to build them and the materials for the building. Burroughs said there is no standard on the plan, other than to make them large enough to accommodate the book sizes and sturdy enough to withstand the wind and elements. She does want to see Plexiglas used as the window on the door for safety reasons.
Boxes can also be dedicated to whomever the builder desires. The current ones are dedicated to April LeFevre, a school librarian for Holbrook, who passed away two years ago and was very loved by the students.
Burroughs is hoping that the service clubs in the area might take on the project. “I think it would be wonderful to have a box that is the Route 66 theme,” noted Burroughs, who also said she has plenty of books to fill more boxes.
Folks can donate building materials, money or books to the project by contacting Burroughs via email at brendab@holbrook.k12.az.us.
