Journal

Today I visited the Free Library of Springfield Township after school in order to gain their permission to advertise my book drive, and collect books in bins which will be placed in the library. I spoke first with Marie Kiessling, who I have worked with in the past, and she agreed to be my mentor throughout the project. She then referred me to Mary Katherine, who seems to be in charge of outside activities pertaining to the library. I explained the purpose of the book drive, and the library staff seemed very enthusiastic. Mary Katherine even suggested that I make up some flyers that Jenny, the children's librarian, can pass out to parents after weekday storytime. These would be in addition to general flyers that would be posted in the library. Now that I got my location approved, I can begin thinking about the technicalities of my project, and brainstorming designs for advertisements. Now I need to find an organization to which I can give my donated books. - 30 //minutes // **Friday, October 7, 2010: ** After much searching on the internet, I finally found a possible recipient for my books! After conducting a few general searches for organizations in the Philadelphia area that accept book donations, I came across //Philadelphia Reads // mentioned in passing in an informal online discussion. I explored the website, and they seem like just the type of organization I was looking for. Here's a link the their website: [|Philadelphia Reads] They are a Philadelphia-based organization dedicated to bettering in-school, out-of-school, and summer programs for children in the Philadelphia area. Though there are many ways an outside can help, I am most interested in the Children's Book Bank. Teachers and librarians in the neighboring areas can come to the Book Bank and choose books for their school libraries from the ones donated. They also accept both new and gently-used books, which really makes me happy because I know some places only accept new books (this would make the book collection more difficult). I filled out the contact form and am now awaiting a reply with the approval of the organization. Since it's Friday, I probably won't hear back from them until later next week... //1 hour (including searching for an organization and exploring the Philadelphia Reads website). // **Wednesday, October 12, 2010: ** After school today, I received a call from Jim Remsen, coordinator of the //Philadelphia Reads // Book Bank. He asked me further questions about his project and I in turn inquired more specifically about the organization. Ultimately, he gave his blessings, so to speak, and seemed extremely grateful. He also said he would email me further information, so I am awaiting his follow-up. //- 15 minutes // **Wednesday, October 12, 2010 (later): ** Tonight, I received an extremely helpful email from Jim Remsen. Rather than explain everything he said, I am pasting a copy of his email here: //Hello, again, Lina. // //Thanks for organizing a book drive for this very important purpose. I'm attaching a backgrounder ('Book Drive request') that describes the purpose and importance of the book bank. Also, I'm attaching a list of our simple sorting categories, should you wish to pre-sort your donated books into category boxes prior to delivery to us. We have about 100 categories on our shelves, but this is a streamlined list to minimize confusion and mistakes. // //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Let me add some useful information about the sort of books we urgently need: Board books, ABC books, counting books, Dr. Seuss, early-years storybooks, anthologies, beginning readers, popular series (Pooh, Nate the Great, Junie B. Jones, American Girls, Magic Treehouse, etc. etc.), nature, animals, dinosaur, sports, biographies, chapter books for grades 2-7, classics, dictionaries, atlases. Just about anything but textbooks, adult-level books, and shabby old books or library discards. // //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Hope that's helpful. Let's stay in touch. // //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Regards, // //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Jim Remsen // //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Book Bank Coordinator // //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">PHILADELPHIA READS // //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">325 Chestnut St., Phila 19106 // //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">215-279-7506 / jremsen@philareads.org // <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">Jim also attached two extremely helpful word documents. One pertains to the categories that should be used when sorting the books, and the other is an official memo explaining more about Philadelphia Reads. I think I'll use the memo and make copies of it to have as handouts and on display in the Free Library of Springfield Township. Here are the two attachments: <span style="background: white; color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">[|READS Book Drive request.doc] <span style="background: white; color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">[|Simple sorting categories.doc] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Now I can officially start the planning of my book drive. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">- 5 minutes. // **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Tuesday, October 18, 2010: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">After school I received a call from Marie at the township library. She told me she had some books for me! Even though I haven't yet made the boxes or completed the flyers (because I am planning on beginning the drive in November), Marie must have been talking it up at the library. I drove to the library and received a stack of about 15 children's books, many of them Dr. Seuss (which is good, according to Jim Remsen's guidelines). Once I make the boxes and flyers, things should really pick up //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">-- 25 minutes //
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Thursday, September 30, 2010: **

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Monday, October 25, 2010: ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">Since it's almost the end of October and I have a substantial start for my research portion, I figured tonight was as good a time as any to make flyers to hang up in the library, at school, and ultimately around the community. After checking out the available page borders for Mircosoft Word and searching for free downloadable borders on the internet to no avail, I decided to make my own. Perusing my book shelf, I took some of the fattest books, stacked them in a large pile, then photographed them both from the front and the back. These pictures are on either side of my flyers, acting as a type of border. I'm not quite finished them yet, but here is what I have so far. <span style="background: white; color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">[|Flyer.docx] <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">I also plan on making brochures to be handed out in the library.--- //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">1 hour 15 minutes //

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Wednesday, October 27, 2010: ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">During class today, I finalized the flyer that I plan to hang around the high school. Now I have to send it to get approved. I may tweak it slightly when I distribute them to the library/hang them around the community, because I'm not sure if I want my contact information available. Here's the finalized flyer. <span style="background: white; color: blue; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">[|Final Flyer.docx] //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">-- 15 minutes. //

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Friday, October 29, 2010: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Today I went to see Dr. McCarthy in order to get my flyer approved to hang up around school next week. She was really supportive, immediately approved the flyer, and even offered her help in my project because she taught third grade (a crucial grade for reading development) in Philadelphia! As my project progresses, maybe I'll take her up on her offer. My dad can make copies of the flyer at work, which will eliminate the cost of going to a Staples or Office Depot, etc.. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">-- 10 minutes //

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Tuesday, November 2, 2010: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Tonight I took some time to prepare the collection boxes I will be putting by the main office and in the township library. I covered them in red and gold wrapping paper so they look more presentable. One hour later, after lots of packing tape, wrapping paper, and scissors, I had two big xerox boxes covered. They look pretty good, considering how difficult it is to neatly wrap a box of so big a size. Now all I have to do before the boxes are ready to go out is fix the lids and tape on a flyer/sign advertising the book drive. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> 1 hour 15 minutes //

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Wednesday, November 3, 2010: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Well, I learned one new thing: regular scissors are no match for cutting the thick cardboard that makes up xerox box lids. I have decided to make the lids of the boxes into advertising signs, but only wanted to use the large flat part in the center. Thus, I had to cut off the edges of the lids, and scissors just were not working. So, with my dad's help, I used a box cutter (one of the many tools in our basement) to cut the lids down to the size I need. I don't have any more time today, but tomorrow I'll cover the lid in wrapping paper and attach the signs, meaning the boxes should be ready no later than Friday. Also, my dad made 25 copies of the flyer I created to hang around school, so tomorrow I'll hang those up and get the word out. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">-- 20 minutes //

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Thursday, November 4, 2010: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">During our class session, I was able to finalize the flyer I intend to distribute in the library and hang around the community. I used my school flyer as a template, but eliminated my email address, added a list of the books //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Philadelphia Reads //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> desires, and reorganized some of the formatting. After completing the flyer, I sent it in an email to my dad; hopefully he'll get it in time to print out 75 copies, to start with, today. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">--- 30 minutes // **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Thursday, November 4, 2010 (later): ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">After school today, I hung flyers up all around the building on bulletin boards to advertise the book drive and hopefully get some donations from students. I didn't realize how many bulletin boards there were in the school, which is great! Tonight I'll finish my boxes. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">-- 45 minutes //

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Thursday, November 4, 2010 (even later): ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">Yes, I finally finished my boxes! I covered the flat parts of the two lids in matching wrapping paper, wasted a lot of packing tape (whoops), and eventually got the lids attached to the boxes as a kind of back. The cardboard should be thick enough that it can support itself. I attached two of my newest flyers, the ones that are more specific and include what types of books to donate. Also, I created a simple sign that says "Book Drive" and taped it to the front of the boxes to catch peoples' eyes. My collection boxes for both school and the library are complete! //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">- 1 hour // **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Friday, November 5, 2010: ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">This morning I dropped my collection box off in front of the main office. The book drive is officially in business. After school, I had to hang up signs for German Club, so I hung a few more advertising the drive on bulletin boards I missed yesterday. There are now exactly 25 flyers all throughout the school. After school I went to the library to volunteer, and thus dropped off that collection box. I guess I'll go back on Monday to give my flyers to Jenny personally to distribute after storytime. Then I can have her fill out a mentor sheet too. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> 1 hour // **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Saturday, November 6, 2010: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Today I had Chinese food for dinner, and I saw this as the perfect opportunity to try to spread the word about my book drive. I drove to Happy Garden in Oreland with my dad, and while he picked up the food I asked if I could hang a flyer in the window. Unfortunately the answer was no, but at least I tried. Maybe getting businesses to agree to this will be more difficult than I thought. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">-- 20 minutes // **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Monday, November 8, 2010: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">After school today I went to the township library to deliver flyers. I gave over 50 to Jenny (children's librarian) to pass out to parents after storytime, and hung quite a few up at the entrance to library and on the bulletin board //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">- 30 minutes. // **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Wednesday, November 10, 2010: ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">Today during class, I wrote an announcement to put on the morning news to advertise my book drive because even though I put up flyers, I don't think many people read them. Here's the announcement I sent to Mr. Meder: //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Did you know that by 4th grade, half of students in Philadelphia schools are reading below their grade levels? Well, now you can help. All throughout November, donate new or gently used books to ////<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Philadelphia Reads, an organization the supplies books to teachers and librarians in the Philadelphia area. There is a collection bin in front of the main office and one in the township library. Children’s books and all types of reading material except for adult books are accepted. Help spread a love of reading and provide other children with opportunities for better learning. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> -- 10 minutes **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Wednesday, November 10, 2010 (later): ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">This afternoon, I decided to deliver flyers to people in my neighborhood. I took about 40 flyers, folded them in half, and highlighted my name to draw attention to the purpose of the project. Then, with the help and company of my brother, I visited neighboring houses, targeting those specifically who I knew had older kids or kids in college, as they would probably be more likely to have unused books sitting around. I also visisted houses with younger kids, just in case these families had books they didn't use or want anymore. I left flyers in between doors and under welcome mats. Hopefully this will alert more people of the drive and bring in a bigger pull of books. I plan on visiting more houses later in the week. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">--- 1 hour 30 minutes //

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Thursday, November 11, 2010: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">After school today I walked to the public library to check my boxes and conference with my mentor. There were quite a few books in the box, and I've only advertised in the library for 4 days! There were also some books in the box by the main office in school, which surprised me, because I don't think my flyer and announcement have been very effective. I left the books in the box at school to encourage other people to donate too. Back at the library, I conferenced with Marie, allowing her to fill out a mentor sheet to document the progress of my work. I took the books home from the library, and counted them all; so far, I've got around 50. I guess that's not a bad start. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">-- 1 hour //

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Friday, November 12, 2010: ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">I went around to neighborhood businesses after school today and hung flyers up in windows/on bulletin boards when it was allowed. I didn't get as many hung up as I had hoped (most businesses reserve window spaces for advertising their own products), but hopefully word will continue to spread. For example, the bulletin board at Acme, althrough crowded, now has a flyer advertising my book drive. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">- 1 hour 30 minutes //

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Saturday, Novmber 13, 2010: ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">After talking to my younger cousin earlier today, I decided to email her family a flyer about the drive. They have a 15 year old and a 12 year old, so I figured it's very likely they would have books they no longer use. Later in the day, I recieved a call back, and talked to my cousin about the drive, explaining it in detail; she said she would be happy to help! I'll go to her houses later and pick up any books she has. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">-- 30 minutes //

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Monday, November 15, 2010 **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">: <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Once again, I decided to distribute more flyers around my neighborhood to houses I did not visit the first time. After school, I folded about 30 more flyers, highlighted them, and then my brother and I walked around putting them in between doors of houses were kids/teenagers lived. Oh, I almost forgot to mention - there were about 8 more books in the bin at school, so I took them home too and added them to my growing pile. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">--- 1 hour 30 minutes //

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Wednesday, November 17, 2010: ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">One of my friends brought 6 books today for the drive, so I added those to the growing pile I have at home. Also, after school I walked to the township library to check the bin and do some volunteer work. Wow! Not only was my bin completely filled, but so was an additional large cardboard box and two shopping bags! It's been less than a week since I checked it - things really seem to be picking up. Jenny is distributing the flyers, and words seems to be getting around. I called my mom for a ride, and when she arrived, Marie helped the two of us load the books into the car. Once I got home, I added them to the pile - the books from today outnumber all the ones I have collected so far. They all seem to be in fairly good condition (although there are a few that are questionable) and I recognize a lot of good titles! //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">-- 1 hour //

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Saturday, November 20, 2010: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Today once again included a trip the township library to check the book bin. Though there were not as many books as last time, the box was almost half-full. Perhaps it's time to print some more flyers for Jenny to distribute. I brought the books home and added them the ones I already have. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> 20 minutes //

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Thursday, November 25, 2010: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">At Thanksgiving, I spent some time talking with my cousin, who's in college, about my project. He promised to look through any books he has at home before he returns to college. I'm not sure if he'll actually do it (he's not the most reliable) but it was worth a shot. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">25 minutes //

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Friday, November 26, 2010: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">My parents and I drove to my aunt and uncle's house to collect a xerox box full of books. My cousins are both seven years old, and they had quite a few books they no longer use. I'm happy to have them. //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;"> 1 hour //

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Monday, November 29, 2010: ** <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">On the way to jazz band, I stopped at the township library to empty the book box again. The amount of books is lessening, but there were still a few there. I think that all those people who were willing to donate probably already did. Originally I was going to run the book drive only until the end of November, but I might leave the box in the library up until I deliver the books to //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Philadelphia Reads. -- 20 minutes. // **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Friday, December 3, 2010: ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: auto auto 12pt;">After checking the book at the main office in school multiple times, and coming up empty pretty much every time, I took home the box from school today. Though I wasn’t expecting a lot of participation from the study body, it was still a little disappointing. Oh well. -- //15 minutes.//

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Tuesday, December 7, 2010: ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: auto auto 6pt;">Well, there’s not much to report, because I’m simply continuing the book drive at the township library. Today after school I walked to the library to volunteer and check the book box. And I was extremely happy to see that the box was filled once again! Marie even had some books in the back room that didn’t fit. If there weren’t many books, I was going to remove the box and end my drive (my flyers all indicate that the drive would finish in November, but it’s been so successful that I decided to extend it). Most of the books are in really good shape, and collecting them and looking through them brings back all sorts of childhood memories. Oh, I was also really pleased to discover one of the flyers that I distributed around the neighborhood was included with a bag of donated books. It makes me happy to know that my work of delivering door-to-door flyers actually helped my project! ---//30 minutes//

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Friday, December 10, 2010: ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: auto auto 6pt;">Upon opening my email today, there was a message from Mr. Remsen, with potential dates of when I could drop off the books. Here is a copy of the email: //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Hello again, Lina. Hope your drive has gone well. You have graciously agreed to drive the books up to us at MLK High. This month we are at the book bank 9:15-5:30pm on Dec. 14, 15, 21 and 22 (until 6pm), then closing until Jan. 5. // //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Let me know your ETA and if you need anything further from me. // //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Thanks, // //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Jim Remsen // //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Book Bank Coordinator // //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">PHILADELPHIA READS // //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">325 Chestnut St., Phila 19106 // //<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">215-279-7506 // <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: auto auto 6pt;">I haven't really thought about specific dates for delivery, but it's something I definitely need to discuss with my parents. I also paid another visit to the library today, and brought home another armful of books --//30 minutes//

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Tuesday, December 14, 2010: ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: auto auto 6pt;">Well, today I finally decided to officially end my book drive. Originally I was planning on only running the drive until the end of November, but it was such a success at the township library that I kept it going as long as possible. When volunteering after school at the library, I took home the collection box (which was empty, a clear sign that the drive had run its course). Guess it's time to pack up the books and get in touch with Mr. Remsen. //- 30 minutes//

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Thursday, December 16, 2010: ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: auto auto 6pt;">After school today, I received a phone call from Mr. Remsen, who was inquiring about how my drive went. He also explained to me the process of dropping the books off, and how everything would work. I took down some notes, and promised to get in touch with him via email within the next two days with the date on which I will be able to deliver the books. // 10 minutes.//

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Friday, December 17, 2010: ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: auto auto 6pt;">Phew. What a week. I’m so glad it’s finally the weekend! After talking with my parents, we decided the best day to deliver the books to MLK High School would be on Monday. Mr. Remsen said that coming Monday would probably be a better experience for me because Wednesday is when the teachers and librarians come to ‘shop’ for books. This is an exciting time, but also quite busy; he would not be able to spend as much time showing me around, and explaining how everything works. Anyway, the time has come to organize all my books according to the categories Mr. Remsen specified when I first began my drive. I carried in all the books from the table on my back porch where they have been stored, and stacked them up aesthetically on my kitchen table. After my dad snapped a few pictures – I can use them in my reflection/final powerpoint – the organization began. Boy, there are sure a lot of books. I guess I made significant progress, but there is still so much to do. I separated the toddler/board books and most of the Disney books out, as well as some of the hardcover paperback books. I haven’t counted them yet, but it’s late, and I’m exhausted. Guess I’ll continue tomorrow//….-- 3 hours//

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Saturday, December 18, 2010: ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: auto auto 6pt;">I have come to the conclusion that I will never look at books the same way again. Don’t get me wrong – I still love to read, and really enjoy looking at books. But at the moment, I need a break. I finished sorting all the books this morning (well this morning into the afternoon). I really did not expect the sorting process to take that long, but I wanted to inspect each book, take off extra stickers/get rid of bookmarks, and perhaps read the back cover summary as well. Needless to say, each book has been assigned to a specific category. Some, however, were hard to place. For example, does a Disney book that is also a board book get sorted with Disney, or board? Decisions, decisions. I’m sure the people at the book bank can fix any mistakes I may have made while sorting. I also emailed Mr. Remsen to let him know to expect me on Monday. Final book count: 496. I’m really, really, happy with the results, and I hope Philadelphia Reads is too! //---3 ½ hours//

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">Monday, December 20, 2010: ** <span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; margin: auto auto 6pt;">I have mixed feelings about the drive being over. On one hand, it’s a really good feeling knowing that I single-handedly pulled off my original vision. But I’m a little sad it’s over. Anyway, I delivered all my books today to Jim Remsen, who was really happy. It was great to get a personal tour of the book bank and hear an explanation of exactly how the books will be helping. //---2 1/2 hours//

I received a letter in the mail today from Mr. Remen thanking me for all the donations. It was really nice, and was a personalized letter rather than a generic thank you. I'm considering my project a success. //--5 minutes//.
 * Friday, December 24, 2010:**

Though a little late, I stayed after school today to take down all the signs hanging up that advertised my book drive. I realized, after passing some in the hall today, that I had never taken them down. // 30 minutes//
 * Thursday, January 6, 2010:**


 * Total time spent: 1820 minutes = 30.3333 hours **

*See reflections page for my reflection paragraph*