This content was published: March 2, 2012. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
PCC Rock Creek delivers on book donation promise
Story by Janis Nichols. Photo by James Hill.
The project began with a modest goal—solicit 5,000 pounds of donated books and deliver them to the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville. No one affiliated with the Book Mark Project predicted the overwhelming success of the drive or that its success would result in a commitment to fill every prison library in the state.
To date, Rock Creek has delivered more than 10,000 pounds of books to the facility in Wilsonville. How many books is that? Approximately 14,000 books have been replaced by 20,000 new ones.
To date, Rock Creek has delivered more than 10,000 pounds of books to the facility in Wilsonville. How many books is that? Approximately 14,000 books have been replaced by 20,000 new ones.
“Now that the Coffee Creek library is completely replenished,” said Angela Wheeler, Coffee Creek library coordinator, “we will shift from recipient to book delivery facilitator and will forward donated books to other prisons in the state.”
The Book Mark Project is part of PCC’s 50th anniversary year celebration and its goal of 50,000 hours of community service.
“The Book Mark Project has taken on a life of its own,” said David Rule, president of Portland Community College Rock Creek Campus and the home of the Book Mark Project. “We identified a need and a relatively inexpensive and efficient way to address it. We have an opportunity to provide books to a large population that is invisible and with few resources. This project reflects our mission and our campus culture. We are delighted by its success.”
Janis Nichols, PCC community relations manager and Book Mark Project coordinator, said donors are encouraged to bring their books to their neighborhood libraries.
“PCC works with the ’Friends’ of libraries, those volunteers who staff library book sales throughout the year,” she said. “These sales generate money for the libraries but they also result in a mountain of excess books. We help solve a critical overflow problem which is why librarians are always happy to see us coming.”
For more information, please visit www.pcc.edu/bookmark.