A group of do-gooders in Delray have made it their mission to put books where there were no books before.
On Dec. 14, their creation — a library of 6,000 books — will open to the people of southwest Delray. Located at Toussaint L'Ouverture High School, the 'library' will cater to local kids and anyone else who wants to read but can't make it to the main library downtown.
"It's a wonderful gift to the school and the community," said Diane Allerdyce, co-founder of the high school, which has never had a library in its 13 years of existence.
The book wish was granted by the CJ Foundation, a local nonprofit made up of more than 100 volunteers and 11 board members. About 20 volunteers organized the entire library project, and they won't stop after all the book are placed on shelves. Volunteers will run the library after school and on Saturdays.
In addition to providing books, the vision is a place that attracts kids who may not have access to the downtown library, teaches responsibility and provides a safe after-school environment.
"There's no way we can compete with the Delray Beach Public Library," said Stacey Staley, co-founder of the CJ Foundation. "We hope to get the students who can't make it there."
Alan Kornblau, director of the downtown library, isn't worried about competition. He's all for anything that gives people better access to books.
"The more libraries the better," he said.
But, a library with late fees and damage charges wasn't what Cito Beguristain, president of the foundation, pictured.
"A typical library has a monetary responsibility system," he said. "I wanted to create a different scenario, a social system of responsibility. Instead of using cash as a system of punishment, use positive reinforcement."
He said kids who lose or damage a library book are often afraid to ask their parents to pay for the cost.
"You don't want to find out that dollar figure or embarrass your parents," he said. "You just never go back."
So instead of dishing out lunch money, kids will pay off any debts by volunteering time.
"We are operating on a trust system," Staley said. "Hopefully we teach kids good morals. Be responsible and bring the book back. We don't want to discourage them from coming in for any reason."
The concept of the library can be credited to Beguristain, who is a local developer familiar with Delray's southwest community.
In addition to being involved with projects there, he said it reminds him of a lower-income area in Miami, where he helped run a kids club.
Every day there, he said he noticed three sisters who would come into the center and read.
"They had nothing," he said. "They would come in every day and read books constantly."
Years later, he discovered one went to Harvard and one to Stanford.
"Schools can only teach you so much," he said. "You can learn so much more reading a book."
Source: southwest - Google News http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&fd=R&usg=AFQjCNGqXxSyLOIA8MIPov4PxMHh2BtpEg&url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-delray-local-library-20131104,0,2649123.story
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