School Libraries: Crisis or Opportunity?

Back in December I talked to the editor of Learning & Media, the Journal of Pennsylvania School Librarians Association about Library Build and Rowen. This week I got the edition with the interview and pictures! Check it out! If you can't read it (because of my bad scanner) and are excited, email me, and I can send you a better copy! Also, I think if you click on each picture, your computer will make it bigger.

"He dropped all the books down the stairs!"

No books were harmed in the making of this blog post. But the kids helping me to unload books did... well... drop some - unintentionally though, the bag split!

Today I unloaded about 8 boxes and bags of books into the Rowen library - all donated from public libraries in South Philly, and the juju salon's book drive. I am hoping to plan and schedule a work day in order to weed the collection some more, and to process all the donated books. Anyone want to help? Email me at calliehammond@librarybuild.org

On a light note, CNN had a cute article, 9 things never to say in a book club, check it out for some fun reading, and to always remember that reading can and should be fun (and even a social event) for our young students!

Also, anybody know an architect or designer who can help us think through floor plans for the library? I've tried reaching out to local places, to no avail.

Happy Monday.

Help us out! You know you want to!

Well it is that time of year: summer internships.

Not for me. For you. Or someone you know, perhaps?

Okay, we need some help (I mean, I need some help), in the following areas:

Special Events - Check out the Idealist posting.
- Summer Book Fair
- Grand Opening at Rowen's Library

Development - Check out the Idealist posting.
- Grants, grants, grants
- More grants

Oh, and we desperately need office space. Check out the Idealist posting. 
Please? Anyone with leads contact me.
Library Build is currently growing, however all of our funds go directly to the libraries we renovate - we do not even pay salaries at this point (much to my chagrin). We can not afford to pay a high monthly bill.

Thoughts, comments, ideas, suggestions, laughs, jokes? Email me please, calliehammond@librarybuild.org

I like getting emails about libraries. And books. And office space.

Social Innovation

On Friday I spent the day in NYC with the NJ Social Innovation Institute visiting and learning from some great examples of social entrepreneurial businesses with double and triple bottom lines (profit, people, environment). It was very inspiring, and amazing to see and hear how these companies went from nothing to shining examples of social businesses.

First up was Greyston Bakery.

 They began as a bakery with a social mission - help former inmates, and people down on their luck, get jobs.   Eventually they started a foundation to further support their employees - housing, childcare, education support, and more. By law a business can not own a nonprofit, so the newly created foundation became the owner of the bakery. Now profits are rolled back into the business and into the foundation. The coolest part? Greyston Bakery provides the brownies that are in Ben and Jerry's ice creams!

Second up was IceStone.

IceStone is located in the Brooklyn Navy Yard (which was fascinating in its own right). They use recycled glass (mixed with concrete, colors, and special secrets) to create environmentally friendly counter-tops, tiles, and table tops. Although they don't have a foundation like Greyston, they do provide for their employees by offering a living wage (pretty high for NYC!) and by making sure that all employees are engaged and involved.

All in all, both businesses were impressive, and will hopefully inspire further innovation in the field of social entrepreneurship!