Floating Bookmobile By Elizabeth Manning Few kids around Bethel used to read while they were helping their parents and grandparents catch, clean and dry salmon at fish camp. But starting three summers ago, books can now be found in summer camps up and down the Kuskokwim River. What made the difference? The Kusko Book Express, a floating library sponsored by the Lower Kuskokwim School District. The Book Express, now two skiffs strong, travels up and down the river, handing out books to students. "It wasn’t solving our problem," Arnold said. "Kids don’t read in the summer and our reading scores are very low." These days, reading is a common activity up and down the river, and the floating bookmobiles have become so popular that students recognize the skiffs and get excited when they see them coming. "Kids will chase you down the beaches," Arnold said. The way it works is simple: Instead of hoping the kids will pack reading materials when they leave for fish camp, the district now brings the books to the students. Arnold packs the books in plastic tubs, which are organized and labeled by grade level. The boats start out a couple of weeks after school dismisses in the spring and make a circuit up and down the river throughout most of the summer, returning to Bethel every couple of weeks to restock. Along with the books, the Book Express also hands out Ziploc bags containing a spiral notebook and a workbook, plus crayons, pencils and prizes like inflatable beach balls. | |
|
