Garfield Gators Sink Their Teeth Into a Revamped Library
Garfield Gators Sink Their Teeth Into a Revamped Library
Reading expands knowledge, ignites imagination, fuels passions, and unlocks doors–and Garfield Gators are ready to sink their teeth into some books thanks to a makeover of their school library.
This library refresh comes from an exciting partnership between the school and non-profit Access Books Bay Area. Selected for an Access Books Bay Area School Library Refurbishing Project Grant, Garfield Community School recently saw 57 volunteers ready to organize, refresh, and paint.
Volunteers sorted, labeled, covered, and organized more than 670 brand-new, diverse, and culturally relevant books as part of the project and there are more on the way in the coming weeks. Students are sure to enjoy this rich collection of literature in both English and Spanish adorning the library shelves. Further promoting reading, classroom libraries received 500 gently used and new books, as well.
The walls also got an update with vivid paintings sure to draw students into the magic of reading. Inside the library, nearly a dozen volunteers joined Access Books Bay Area’s art director in prepping walls and painting a large mural of a Garfield Gator reading to a group of children at Garfield with some of the students’ favorite book characters such as Dogman, Pigeon and Elephant. An outside mural depicts a forest with more beloved story characters.
Strategic Organizational Alignment:
Reading grants and initiatives such as this support RCSD’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Goal One to accelerate growth in English Language Arts by expanding student access to resources and fostering a love of reading.
Since 2016, Access Books Bay Area has donated more than 85,000 books in an effort to foster a love of reading for all students. For more details on the Garfield School makeover, refer to the Access Books Bay Area program webpage.
Photo Slideshow:
Experience the magic of Garfield’s newly refreshed library! Check out the photo slideshow capturing the transformation, from mural painting to book organizing. Special thanks to photographer Steven Shpall for beautifully documenting this exciting project
