This Organization Plays For Keeps

One local non-profit, Books For Keeps, is preparing students to look forward to a summer not only filled with poolside laughter and fun-filled sleepovers, but enjoying the pleasure in reading books of their choice.

Books For Keeps provides students access to thousands of covers, giving them the option in choosing books to keep. Students at Alps Road, Fowler Drive and Stroud Elementary Schools along with Clarke Middle School have already benefited from this arrangement.

“I met a child once who said she wasn’t excited about summer because she doesn’t get to read,” said Melaney Smith, founder of Books For Keeps. Smith thought about buying the child some books. After speaking with the child’s teacher, Smith learned there are a lot of children who don’t own a single book.

Many students in Athens come from families who can’t afford to buy books, who can’t get to the public library or aren’t oriented toward reading for pleasure. Launched in 2009, Books For Keeps is attempting to remove the barrier preventing students from reading by delivering more than 16,000 books to the schools.

With over 40,000 books donated this year, Smith and her staff of volunteers have processed, reviewed and selected the titles best for their target students.

Whatever It Takes, a local non-profit organization which works to improve the quality of education and the development of children in Athens, has donated many of their resources to Books For Keeps in attempt to expand the capacity and reach of the organization’s impact.

In one day alone, Books For Keeps distributed 12 books to every student in kindergarten through 2nd grade at Alps Elementary School.

“I was astonished at how many books Melaney’s been able to receive,” said Ryan Lewis, communications director at Whatever It Takes. “It’s so exciting and I’m proud to be a part of it and help out in any way I can.”

With the help of a motivated staff, dedicated volunteers and the local community, Smith has led the program through an exponential growth, impacting the quality of education and catering to the needs of hundreds of students.

“To me, the best part is the testament to what one person with one great idea and good intentions can do,” Lewis said.

Smith is dedicated and attentive to the needs of the students and has implemented the best method in researching which schools to deliver to and which books the students look forward to reading.

“We want to make sure we have a process in place,” Smith said. “The whole goal is to find books they’ll think are fun to read so they’ll read them over the summer.”

Many schools offering free and reduced lunch are selected because a University of Tennessee study has shown that economically disadvantaged families have been tied to lower levels of education and reading achievement.

“One study has reported if students read 12 books during the summer, it will help in retaining information,” said Anisa Sullivan Jimenez, director of public relations and communications for the Athens-Clarke County School District.

Smith is trying to expand the organization, perhaps to reach middle and high school students. Elementary school students are receptive and excited about receiving the books and the organization has been successful in its mission thus far. 

“There are no words that can describe the looks on the kids faces when they receive the books,” Jimenez said. “I think Books For Keeps is absolutely incredible.”