Thinking Outside the Box

Above: Box Library distributes 250,000 books every year.

Author Anna Quindlen once wrote in “How Reading Changed My Life,” “Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home.” Nan Herald, a 10-year-veteran of Breathitt County Public Schools understands that sentiment and has worked to bring those experiences to readers, young and old alike for the past five years through Box Library.

“We give out over 250,000 books per year,” Herald said. “Through Christian Appalachian Project’s (CAP) Operation Sharing we get to deliver these books for free to our community.”

Books were the beginning of Operation Sharing. In 1986, then Vice President Bill Begley received a call from a friend for a donation of 29 truckloads of children’s books. CAP’s board approved an unbudgeted $50,000 to store the books and within a few months had distributed thousands of books to children in Appalachia. That first storage and distribution operation was the beginning of Operation Sharing, now CAP’s largest and farthest-reaching program.

“Box Library is a community thing,” said Herald, a family resource coordinator at Breathitt County High School. “Everyone takes time to organize the event which provides boxes of books for anyone who would like to take them home. We also distribute other needed items that we get from Operation Sharing such as food, clothing, shoes, school supplies, and hygiene items.”

Herald’s son, Westin, named the project when he was just three years old. The distribution is simple. Notify the public. Place large boxes brimming over with books for anyone to take. From the perspective of a child, Westin asked her, “Mommy, is this the Box Library?” and the name stuck.

The Breathitt County Literacy Team takes the lead to coordinate this annual event about twice a year. They receive support from the local Jackson Fire Department, Jackson Parks and Recreation, as well as local pastor John Bunn who promotes Box Library on his radio program. Family and friends publicize the event on social media as well as the local newspaper.

“All of the counties surrounding us participate in Box Library,” Herald said. “All ages are welcome to take books and they do: kids, adults, senior citizens. Sometimes it’s just people visiting the park where we hold the distribution. They can take time out and get free books.”

According to Dr. Robert Cooter, reading researcher and former dean of Bellarmine University’s School of Education, in a Kentucky Youth Advocates article, literacy is critical to opening up additional opportunities for children that lift them out of poverty.

“We know ensuring that children can read and write on grade level is essential if we are to increase the number of kids [that are] college and career ready and do well in life,” Cooter said. “Research has documented that children who read proficiently by the end of third grade are more likely to graduate from high school, are less likely to fall into poverty and crime, and are more likely to find a job that can adequately support their families. We also know that children from poverty and near-poverty enter school three or more years behind their peers from better off families.”

Box Library continues to be instrumental in putting books into the hands of children and their families in Eastern Kentucky. Herald, a social worker by training, understands the need.

“I worked with the Cabinet for Families and Children and CAP provided many needed services to hurting families,” Herald added. “Box Library is a special event. I simply want to see people enjoy reading, to have resources to read to their children. The best thing about Box Library is that it is free. Everyone has the opportunity to find a great book to treasure.”

Dr. Seuss said it best. “You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book.”