I find it remarkable that this all-volunteer organization provides 20,000 free books to about 2,000 elementary and middle school students from low-income, under-resourced communities of Marin. Having worked in our elementary school system, I know that many students from these communities have few, if any, books of their own at home, and how critically important it is for them to have their own books. It is beautiful to witness the hard work and dedication of all the volunteers.
As an old saying goes, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” That couldn’t be truer for the Book Exchange of Marin, which takes in used books that would otherwise be discarded and turns them into a treasure trove of books for children in Marin’s Title 1 schools.
My children have donated books for many years, and we love knowing that our favorites are going to new homes.
Because it’s an all-volunteer organization, the Book Exchange can use monetary donations to purchase new books of special interest to kids. This expands the choices children are given when they visit the Book Exchange with their classes or parents. In all cases the books are FREE to them, which is wonderful.
As a mother, I believe it is critical for children to be exposed to a variety of books and expand their horizons. Although the statistics about numbers of books received and distributed are impressive, the impact on individual children cannot be measured. Our family gladly supports the Book Exchange and its mission to assist children in underserved communities here in Marin.
The Book Exchange of Marin is a special place. It plays a dual role in the Marin community. It both "recycles" gently used books keeping them out of the landfill and provides books for students in Marin who do not have personal libraries at home. Choosing books from The Book Exchange each year helps them grow their libraries for both pleasure reading and homework.
The Book Exchange has a friendly and dedicated group of volunteers. They work hard sorting and organizing books donated by generous Marin families. Rehoming these books not only provides the students from Marin Title 1 schools the opportunity to choose their favorite books to take home but also keeps these books out of the landfill. This is a quote from Patty Garbarino, president of Marin Sanitary Service. "The Book Exchange of Marin recycles used books and distributes them to students from Marin's Title I schools. Over the past 35 years, over 250 tons of books have been saved from being thrown into landfills, while improving the literacy levels of over 50,000 under-resourced students, a remarkable achievement."
Creating a personal library at home both through field trips and returning to The Book Exchange with their families and rehoming books as students in Marin outgrow them are both worthy endeavors.
I am a local parent and proud supporter of the The Book Exchange. This wonderful organization has been at the heart and soul of our community for many decades. The programs that the Book Exchange provides to local schools is outstanding and I'm proud to support its mission. The Book Exchange is a place for children to discover the magic and wonder of books and stories - what a glorious way to celebrate our community than by donating. The wonderful volunteers who raise funds, carefully curate and distribute the books are knowledgeable and dedicated, many of them are educators who know the impact that literacy can have to uplift a community and change futures. I will continue to donate money and books to the Book Exchange as I have seen the impact it has on our community.
In a time of cell phones and so many digital distractions, the Book Exchange is a grassroots reminder of the importance of literacy in our community. I was so impressed with the 100% volunteer run exchange. The book exchange gives books and an encouragement of reading to hundreds of children in our Title 1 schools. The children come on field trips and are able to shop for books that they can keep! It is a wonderful nonprofit that serves so many youth in Marin County.
Fostering reading and a love of learning is a foundation of a good education.
What a wonderful organization. I first heard about this project through a friend and when I came to visit I was so impressed. It is such an inviting atmosphere.. fun & colorful.. creative and very well thought out. I can see why the kids are so excited when they walk through the doors. This is such a valuable gift for the community. I would encourage anyone who lives in Marin to drop in and see for themselves how this dedicated group of educators and volunteers are improving the literacy of our children.
As a retired educator, I am in awe of what a group of committed volunteers with a clear vision and a deep commitment has accomplished at the Book Exchange. They have established a beautiful and well-organized setting where preschool through middle school students visit during school field trips. Each student can choose and take home ten books, which are either new or in excellent condition, from a huge selection of fiction and nonfiction titles. Even the most recalcitrant readers seem excited about their selections and proud to keep the books. They are encouraged to return another day to select more free books for family members or to buy books at a very low price. Book Exchange volunteers are dedicated, warm, and patient with the children during the field trips and spend countless hours sorting and shelving donations after the students have left.
Underserved students are not the only ones to benefit from this nonprofit. Marin County has many affluent families and schools with unlimited libraries, and children from these homes learn how rewarding it can be to share with others by donating their books. Older students perform community service by helping to sort book donations and organize the bookshelves on Saturdays. What a fabulous way to promote literacy and the idea of "sharing the wealth."
Books and kids - what's not to like. But the Book Exchange is deeper than that. We invite underserved children into the wonderful world of reading which helps to guide them to a lifetime of success. The excitement of the students when they enter the Book Exchange is motivating - not only to the kids but to the volunteers as well. Our goal is laser focused -- bringing the love of reading to the community who might not otherwise have access to a rich collection of books -- from stories about animals, historic events, science, families, favorite storybooks, mysteries and so much more. Our well-arranged and comfortable setting makes it easy for the students to find ten perfect books to keep and share with their families. In addition to serving students, we also invite their families to visit us and choose books as well - extending our reach to those to who not have access to a world of reading.
I've been a volunteer at the Book Exchange of Marin for 2+ years. The enthusiasm of everyone involved or benefited by the work of the Book Exchange - students, families, teachers, volunteers and community supporters - is extraordinary!
It's a great joy to help excited students (many of whom have few, if any, books at home) select books they can take home and keep - 10 for each of them and a few more if they want to bring books home to younger siblings - which most of them do. The books are free and theirs to keep.
The children explore our wide range of books - excitedly comparing choices and discoveries with each other - and then settle on rugs to examine their treasures. The teachers also select books to take back to their classrooms. Everyone heads back to their waiting bus with heavy bags of books and happy smiles.
Along with their books, each student is given a bookmark with the address and hours of the Book Exchange, inviting them to bring their families and have each family member select more free books.
The great pleasure of working with these young people on their school field trips, helping them to discover the joy of books and become proficient readers, is even more satisfying when a number of the students return days or weeks later with their families to get more books!
I have been volunteering with the Book Exchange for about 4 years and can testify to the impact of the work the organization does. Every week during the school year, we bring in about 100 local students on “literacy field trips” and let them choose free books to take home and keep. These students are from the most impoverished local communities, and many have few, if any, books at home. The volunteers work with the teachers ahead of time to select books of special interest to the students. These books are mostly donated by the community, but we also purchase some of the most popular books that are unlikely to have been donated. On the day of the field trip, there are about 10+ volunteers working with groups of about 25 students each to help them find books. The students are so excited to be able to choose their own books and so motivated that they often sit down on a rug and immediately start reading. It is a heart-warming sight!
It takes a tremendous amount of work on the part of our volunteers to sort through hundreds of donated books, shelve and arrange them in an organized but appealing manner, make all the logistical arrangements with the schools, work with the children when they come in to ensure that they leave with books appropriate for their reading level as well as books that pique their interest. We all do it willingly because we see the tremendous benefit for these children to have their own books at home. We also encourage the children to bring their families back to choose more books, thus encouraging the parents to read to their children.
The Book Exchange of Marin also works with other nonprofit organizations in the community to provide books to children in need, thus extending our reach beyond the schools and deep into the local under-resourced communities. It is truly satisfying to see children excited and motivated to read, as learning to read is key to unlocking their future potential.