This content was published: October 28, 2011. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
So far, Book Mark Project collects 1,500 pounds of books
Photos and story by James Hill
Just 3,500 pounds to go.
According to Ken Nelson, manager of Central Distribution Services, Portland Community College’s Rock Creek has collected more than 1,500 pounds of used books already for its Book Mark Project. Nelson and his crew are in charge of shipping the books to the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville.
Central Distribution loads boxes of donated books destined for the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville as part of Rock Creek's 50th service project.
The goal is to collect and deliver 5,000 pounds of donated books and give them to inmates of Coffee Creek. The district-wide effort is part of PCC’s 50th anniversary celebration with a goal of contributing 50,000 hours of community service.
“Our goal is to deliver 5,000 pounds of books before May 31, but if the community responds with enthusiasm, we will gladly keep this project going without any end date in mind,” said Janis Nichols, Rock Creek community relations manager. “The need for books is huge.”
Donated books may be dropped off at the libraries of the Rock Creek, Cascade, Sylvania or Southeast Center campuses. The Book Mark Project cannot accept textbooks, true crime or erotica, but the Coffee Creek library is especially interested in fantasy, mystery, romance, and non-fiction self-help books. Favorite topics include early childhood education and women’s health. There is also a need for reference books such as dictionaries and thesauri. Donated Spanish or Russian language books would also be well received.
For more information, visit www.pcc.edu/bookmark.
About James Hill
James G. Hill, an award-winning journalist and public relations writer, is the Director of Public Relations at Portland Community College. A graduate of Portland State University, James has worked as a section editor for the Newberg Graphic... more »