The library at Dufferin Elementary School in Owen Sound is in desperate need of an upgrade — and students are doing something about it.
Principal Dan Russell says they’ve launched a Bucks for Books campaign to raise 25-thousand dollars by the end of the school year.
Part of the campaign is a 24 hour read-in event at the school this begining today.
The kids will be doing things like writing letters to Education Minister Kathleen Wynne explaining why schools need more money for librarians and books.
While the entire school is invited to participate in the activities all day and evening, only children in Grades 2 to 6 are invited to stay overnight at the school for ghost stories and movies.
A pancake breakfast wraps everything up at 9 AM on Saturday.
Russell explains that with no funding or staffing over the past decade, the library has simply fallen apart and is unorganized and outdated.
Russell says a group of staff, students, and parents tidied it up this fall – but when they got rid of all the damaged and outdated books, the shelves were left quite bare.
In fact, he says the non-fiction section is virtually empty.
Russell says it will take one thousand dollars to fill one shelf with books – they’re hoping to fill 25.
He says the school is also applying for any grants possible that can be used for the library.
Russell acknowledges the Ministry of Education did recently announce funding for library staff – but he says it will only put a librarian in the school for half a day, once a week.
He says the school is hoping to set up a committee of volunteers with the goal to have the library staffed full time in order to maintain it.
Russell says the end goal is to make the library the hub of the school, where students are excited to spend time reading and researching.
Donations can be called in to Dufferin School (519-376-8696) during the read-in event or at any time of your convenience.