Two elementary schools in Langley will receive a boost to their libraries, thanks to the fundraising efforts of local book stores.
Both Douglas Park Community School in Langley City and Willoughby Elementary School have been selected as participants in Indigo’s 2016 Adopt a School Program.
From now until Oct. 9, Chapters Langley and Coles in Willowbrook Mall are fundraising on the schools’ behalf, to help them revitalize their libraries and promote youth literacy.
Three other Langley schools — Blacklock Fine Arts Elementary, Lynn Fripps Elementary and Nicomekl Elementary — also have their own fundraising pages set up at adoptaschool.indigo.ca, where members of the public can make online donations.
Through the campaign, all participating schools will receive 100 per cent of the donations raised in-store and online, and 30 per cent off all book purchases at Indigo, Chapters and Coles stores.
And for every $20 donated online to each individual school (the approximate cost of two books), the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation will donate a third book to the school for free.
Langley residents also have the opportunity to offer support without making a donation, by submitting a short story on the online profile of one of the participating schools. If that story is selected to be featured on the Adopt a School website, the Foundation will donate a book to that school’s library for free.
At Willoughby Elementary, the contest will help the school ensure their library can keep up with the exploding student population.
“Our teachers do an amazing job in instilling the love of reading and learning through the printed book, and at the library we do our best to support this by giving our student titles that engage them,” Willoughby Elementary principal Phillis Giovani wrote on the school’s online fundraising page.
“Unfortunately at this time, due to the ratio between our library budget and the increasing student population, it is extremely difficult keeping the collection up-to-date and in good condition.
“Our goal as a library is to fill all of our students’ literacy needs, providing current and reliable resources, establishing a life-long love for books, and enriching them with exposure to new worlds through reading. Thank you for the opportunity to help us make this happen.”
At Douglas Park, new books will allow teachers to better cater to the diverse literacy levels of their students.
“Literacy is at the heart of both student engagement and student success,” principal Esther Schmit wrote on the Douglas Park fundraising page.
“We have a high ELL (English Language Learners) population so we need high interest, low level books as well as picture books. We also have students who are avid and capable readers who need engaging reading material that will keep them inspired.
“This year we are focusing on instilling a love of reading in all students.”
The annual Indigo campaign unites more than 500 high-needs elementary schools in Canada with local Indigo store to raise funds for new books.
For more information and to donate, visit adoptaschool.indigo.ca or Chapters Langley, 20015 Langley Bypass, and Coles Willowbrook Mall, 19705 Fraser Hwy.