Upgrades to Hudlow Elementary's Library Show Impact of Donations

It's one thing to list donation figures in black and white. It's another to show how those contributions actually impact school libraries and the children who use them every day. Last year, Hudlow Elementary School received a $10,000 grant from the Friends of the Kirk-Bear Canyon Library.

The improvements were wide-ranging, and Hudlow library assistant Riley Essig shared details and photos to help illustrate how the grant funds led to significant upgrades in its book collection and physical space:

• New books: Hudlow added over 1,000 new book titles, which helped lower the average collection age from 31 years to 25 years. "It is still older than we would like," said Essig, "but it is a big improvement that would not have been possible without the grant."

• Book care: The school purchased a Colibri covering machine to protect the most circulated books (especially graphic novels) and extend their lifespan.

• Picture book display: New clear bins were purchased to forward-face the picture book collection, making it easier and more inviting for younger students to browse.

• Listening stations: In addition to print books, the school added a new center that features Yoto players, which are kid-friendly audiobook devices. In addition to the upgrades made possible by the FKBCL grant, TUSD installed new flooring and painted the walls this summer. Essig also painted a mural to brighten the space.

"All these updates, along with weeding out outdated books and adding so many new ones, have truly revitalized the library," Essig said.