Books-A-Million Customers Lend Hand to Ohio County Schools

WHEELING -- Hundreds of books are on their way to students in Ohio County Schools courtesy of Books-A-Million at The Highlands.

This week, Walt Saunders, federal programs director for Ohio County Schools, picked up five boxes of books donated by customers at the bookstore.

"This truly is one of my favorite days of the year -- picking up the books, sorting out the books and getting them to the schools," Saunders said.

He explained each year Books-A- Million manager Aaron Baker sends him a letter saying the store is planning to do a summer book program, and customers when they check out will be asked if they wish to donate to the program.

Saunders is asked to provide a list of book titles most wanted by teachers and their students.

Among those are books from the "Magic Treehouse," "Junie B. Jones," "I Survived" and "Pete The Cat" series.

"At the Warwood School, the teachers are big with Harry Potter," Saunders said. "It's not on the list, but people buy them for the kids anyway."

Some patrons buy from the titles on the list, while some don't and choose some of their own favorites, such as Dr. Seuss books, he continued.

"It's up to the customer to decide what one they want to purchase," he said.

Saunders added that he has been among the store's patrons donating to the program.

"I buy books at Books-A-Million, and they ask me if I want to contribute. I say sure. Why not? It's a good program," he said.

Most of the books are for elementary school reading, while others are on the middle school level. Saunders explained that once they are sorted, the books are delivered to the schools - who then decide how the books will be disbursed to students. Some schools use them in classroom libraries, while others are handed out to students to take home as their own.

For example, Middle Creek Elementary has a "book of the month" program. A little red wagon full of books travels the school once a month, granting students an opportunity to choose a book from the wagon to come home. At Warwood School, there is now a book "vending machine." Students earn tokens, which can be put toward purchasing a book from the machine.

Baker said Books-A-Million has been involved with the summer reading program and Ohio County Schools "for at least the last 13 years."

Additionally, during the holidays, the store partners with the House of the Carpenter for a book and toy drive.

"As a company, we like to be able to not just help the community, but help in a way that also improves literacy," Baker said. "It grows the community. We are a bookstore, but it is one of our passions. We love getting involved with the program."