USA Libraries Book Drive A Success

From left: Heather Hoven-Glass, library supervisor at the USA Biomedical Library; Andrea Wright, associate librarian at the USA Biomedical Library; and USA pediatrician Dr. Cindy Sheets.

The University of South Alabama libraries collected more than 500 books to donate to USA Children’s Medical Center, a pediatric outpatient clinic in Mobile.

The books were donated to the pediatric clinic’s Reach Out and Read Program. This non-profit organization encourages early literacy and school readiness nationwide by giving books to children and advice to parents about the importance of reading.

“Multiple studies have shown that the possession of books, plus being read aloud to at an early age greatly improves a child's vocabulary and preschool readiness,” said USA pediatrician Dr. Cindy Sheets.

In addition to the Reach Out and Read guidelines of providing books to children from 2 months to 5 years of age, USA Children’s Medical Center also provides books to children at sick visits.

The book drive has been an annual event during National Library Week since 2012. “We always have great participation from departments across the university,” said Andrea Wright, information services coordinator at the USA Biomedical Library. “It was a big success.”