The new Book Box is located at the front of Seeley Lake Elementary School. The top shelf is designated as take-a-book, give-a-book with books for children and adults. Below is the shelf for library/school books. Students' names will be written on the envelope or bag. Slots provide a secure place to donate and return library books.
The Take-a-Book, Give-a-Book shelf has books for all ages.
Local realtor Carey Kanavel donated the main book box. Shawn Ellinghouse added the base including drop slots for donations and returning library books.
SEELEY LAKE – Sharing the love of reading and encouraging literacy are goals of Seeley Lake Elementary third grade teacher Kristy Pohlman, SLE Librarian Susan Bracha and local realtor Carey Kanavel. Through their collaborative efforts a new Book Box is available outside of SLE. Students now have access to library books and anyone can participate in the give-and-take books. They are hopeful the Book Box will be available through the summer and additional Book Boxes will be available at other locations.
Pohlman had the idea for the Book Box at SLE after seeing a friend share it on social media. She already had a box in her classroom for her students to donate and take new books home, but with school closed she wanted a way to continue to promote reading with her students.
"This is just an extension of that," said Pohlman.
Pohlman posted the request for a box on social media and Carey Kanavel responded. She has been working on the same idea and already had the plastic box. She was just looking for a location.
"I loved reading as a child and I think it's important to encourage our youth to read. Access to books where families aren't required to purchase a whole library individually is really important," wrote Kanavel in an email. "Right now while everyone is studying from home, it's great to provide kids something entertaining and educational at the same time."
Pohlman and her husband Shawn Ellinghouse revamped Kanavel's box to make it ready for use. There is a shelf for give- and-take books and one below it for library books. Thanks to a donation from Timberline Building Materials, Ellinghouse built a box below with slots for returning library/school books and donating books.
The "Take a book, give a book" shelf is already full of children's books and some chapter books. Library books are available to all pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students and parents with a patron number. They can be checked out through SLE's online catalogue available from the school's website (http://sleonline.org) under the Students tab.
Each Friday, Bracha will provide the books checked out to individual students in a sealed bag with their name on it. Students can check out up to three books as a time. She asks the books are returned in the library drop box by the due date.
"I'm excited to get something going," said Bracha. "I love reading and no libraries anywhere are open. I know the kids have access to e-books but I love to see books get into kids' hands so they can be able to sit down and read."
Bracha said for the library books she is following the Center for Disease Control's guidelines and quarantining all returned books for five days before being checked out again.
"I really want to do it in a way that is as safe as possible, considering the circumstances," said Bracha.
Pohlman said the project is constantly evolving. She hopes that students will continue to use the take-a-book and give-a-bookshelf throughout the summer.
"I just want kids to have the opportunity to read," said Pohlman.
Kanavel said she and others at Clearwater Montana Properties are working on building a "little library" as well that will include books for adults and children. It will be the same system where anyone can take or leave a book. More information will be available soon on the location.
"I think it's really important to support our youth, they're our next generation and they need encouragement," wrote Kanavel. "That includes supporting reading programs at SLE all the way up to providing scholarships to graduating seniors."
"The efforts of Kristy Pohlman, Shawn Ellinghouse, Susan Bracha and Carey Kanavel will have a lasting and positive impact upon SLE and its students for years to come," wrote SLE Superintendent Daniel Schrock in an email. "During this unprecedented time, it is reassuring to know and recognize the good that comes from their efforts on behalf of our kids, their love of literacy and our school."
For more information about the Book Box or how to check out books, please contact Pohlman at kpohlmansle@sleonline.org, Bracha through her Google Classroom or email sbrachasle@sleonline.org or call SLE at 677-2265.
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