Bookcases & Books Literacy Project   Typical most improved reading student at home with his awarded bookcase & books. The Village Woodworkers Club has a special annual community service project with 3 school districts called the "Bookcases & Books Literacy Project" to assist with raising literacy in grade schools. The project has several steps each year that starts with Lanny Mabus coordinating club volunteers building hardwood bookcases. A books purchase grant is obtained from the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation (HSACF) and coordinated by Dave Kariker.  Three area Grade School Principals and their staffs motivate their students to be one of the most improved reading students in their class. Each school librarian uses club supplied HSACF grant money or club funds to cost effectively purchase appropriate reading level books for award. Most improved reading students are identified based on the results of state level testing. School Principals, staff and librarians identify most improved students and package books with each bookcase and conduct awards ceremonies. The bookcases and books are given to given to students to keep in their home. This bookcase & books program, and other programs like it, have provided substantial motivation to students to improve their reading skills and literacy. Students, family members and family friends typically add additional books to their new "home library". Typical annual bookcases and books awards for the Jessieville, Mountain Pine and Fountain Lake Primary Scool Districts are pictured below.   Typical Jessieville School District bookcases & books awards in their gymnasium.   Typical Mountain Pine School District bookcases & books awards in their auditorium.                          Typical Fountain Lake School District bookcases & books awards in one of their classrooms. The Bookcases & Books Literacy Project was started By Richard (Dick)Herrmann and lead by Dick until his unexpected death. Dick was inspired by a literacy improvement project started by Jim Davidson, a self syndicated columnist in Conway, AR. You can read more about Jim's project details by going to website address: www.jimdavidsoncolumn.com and clicking on the "Bookcase Literacy Project" Button

Past Books & Bookcases Awards

Hot Springs Area Community Foundation (HSACF) Book Grants   In 2012, the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation (HSACF) made a generous $1,000 grant for the purchase of books included with bookcase awards. The 2012 club board of directors voted to add $500 from the club treasury to make a total of $1,500 available. To maximize book buying power, the club wrote three $500 checks to the Fountain Lake, Mountain Pine and Jessieville Primary School Districts. Each School District Libarian is then able to make volume purchases of special priced books from school book distributors. The Librarians, Principals and associated teachers place age and reading level appropriate books in each bookcase awarded in the school's most improved reading program. The HSACF funded books combined with the bookcases are powerful reading improvement incentives to Fountain Lake, Mountain Pine and Jessieville grade school students.  Spring 2012 Mountain Pine Bookcase & Books Awards (awards information to be supplied) Spring 2012 Jessieville School Bookcases & Books Awards (awards information to be supplied) Spring 2012 Jessieville School Bookcases & Books Awards (awards information to be supplied) Spring 2011 Mountain Pine Bookcase & Books Awards   The Village Woodworkers built oak bookcases. Thanks to Don Williams for hosting this project in his workshop, Lanny Mabus for leading the project and the Truck Toy Team and volunteer woodworkers for building the 10 awarded bookcases. Thanks also to the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation (HSACF) that provided $500 grant funds for the purchase of new books that were included in the awards to 10 deserving students. The bookcases and donated books were presented to Mountain Pine grade (MP)school students on 6/3/11. The awards were made by the MP staff and coordinated by Ms Lisa Kissire, the Primary School Principal. They selected the students based on reading improvement merit.  In addition to the preceding awards, additional books only awards were made to runner up students. Thanks to Club President Lee Smith and the generosity of the Faith & Fellowship Sunday School class at Christ of the Hills Methodist Church, $200 was donated to Mountain Pine for these awards.  Spring 2011 Jessieville School Bookcases & Books Awards   The Village Woodworkers built oak bookcases. Thanks to Don Williams for hosting this project in his workshop, Bob Porter & Lee Smith for leading the project and the Truck Toy Team and volunteer woodworkers for building the 9 awarded bookcases. Thanks also to the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation (HSACF) that provided $500 grant funds for the purchase of new books that were included in the awards to 9 deserving students. The bookcases and donated books were presented to Jessieville grade school students on 5/26/11 by Mr Crumpler, the Primary School Principal and Denise Smith, the Jessieville Elementary Librarian. They selected the students based on reading improvement merit. No pictures are available for the awards. In addition to the preceding awards, additional books only awards were made to runner up students. Thanks to Club President Lee Smith and the generosity of the Faith & Fellowship Sunday School class at Christ of the Hills Methodist Church, $200 was donated to Jessieville for these awards.  Spring 2011 Fountain Lake School Bookcases & Books Awards   The Village Woodworkers built 30 oak bookcases. Thanks to Don Williams for hosting this project in his workshop, Lanny Mabus for leading the project and the Truck Toy Team and volunteer woodworkers for building the awarded bookcases. Thanks also to the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation (HSACF) that provided $500 grant funds for the purchase of new books that were included in the awards to 30 deserving students. The bookcases and donated books were presented to Fountain Lake primary school students on 5/24/11 by Ms Stacy Smith, the Primary School Principal. The students were selected by Fountain Lake School management based on reading improvement merit. In addition to the preceding awards, additional books only awards were made to runner up students. Thanks to Club President Lee Smith and the generosity of the Faith & Fellowship Sunday School class at Christ of the Hills Methodist Church, $200 was donated to Jessieville for these awards.  Spring 2010 Jessieville School Bookcases & Books Awards  The Village Woodworkers built oak bookcases. Thanks to Don Williams for hosting this project in his workshop, Bob Porter & Lee Smith for leading the project and the Truck Toy Team and volunteer woodworkers for building the 9 awarded bookcases.  Thanks also to the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation (HSACF) that provided grant funds for the purchase of new books that were included in the awards to 9 deserving students.  The bookcases and donated books were presented to Jessieville grade school students on 5/14/10 by Mr Crumpler, the Primary School Principal and Denise Smith, the Jessieville Elementary Librarian. They selected the students based on reading improvement merit. Spring 2010 Fountain Lake School Bookcases & Books Awards   The Village Woodworkers built 36 oak bookcases. Thanks to Don Williams for hosting this project in his workshop, Bob Porter & Lee Smith for leading the project and the Truck Toy Team and volunteer woodworkers for building the awarded bookcases. Thanks also to the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation (HSACF) that provided grant funds for the purchase of new books that were included in the awards to 36 deserving students. The bookcases and donated books were presented to Fountain Lake primary school students by Mr Freeman, the Primary School Principal. The students were selected by Fountain Lake School management based on reading improvement merit. Spring 2009 Jessieville School Bookcases & Books Awards  The Village Woodworkers built oak bookcases. Thanks to Don Williams for hosting this project in his workshop, Bob Porter & Lee Smith for leading the project and the Truck Toy Team and volunteer woodworkers for building the 9 awarded bookcases.  Thanks also to the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation (HSACF) that provided grant funds for the purchase of new books that were included in the awards to 9 deserving students.  The bookcases and donated books were presented to Jessieville grade school students on 5/28/09 by Mr Crumpler, the Primary School Principal and Denise Smith, the Jessieville Elementary Librarian. They selected the students based on reading improvement merit. Spring 2009 Fountain Lake School Bookcases & Books Awards  The Village Woodworkers built 36 oak bookcases. Thanks to Don Williams for hosting this project in his workshop, Bob Porter & Lee Smith for leading the project and the Truck Toy Team and volunteer woodworkers for building the awarded bookcases.  Thanks also to the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation (HSACF) that provided grant funds for the purchase of new books that were included in the awards to 36 deserving students.  The bookcases and donated books were presented to Fountain Lake primary school students on 5/26/09 by Mr Freeman, the Primary School Principal. The students were selected by Fountain Lake School management based on reading improvement merit. Spring 2008 Jessieville School Bookcases & Books Awards  The Village Woodworkers built solid oak bookcases. Thanks to Don Williams for hosting this project in his workshop, Bookcase Chairman Dick Herrmann for leading the project and the Truck Toy Team for building the 9 awarded bookcases.  Thanks also to the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation (HSACF) that provided grant funds for the purchase of new books that were included in the awards to 9 deserving students.  The bookcases and donated books were presented to Jessieville grade school students on 5/23/08 by Mr Crumpler, the Primary School Principal and Denise Smith, the Jessieville Elementary Librarian. They selected the students based on reading improvement merit. Spring 2008 Fountain Lake School Bookcases & Books Awards  The Village Woodworkers built 18 solid oak bookcases. Thanks to Don Williams for hosting this project in his workshop, Bookcase Chairman Dick Herrmann for leading the project and the Truck Toy Team for building the bookcases.  Thanks also to the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation (HSACF) that provided grant funds for the purchase of new books that were included in the awards to 18 deserving students.  The bookcases and donated books were presented to Fountain Lake kindergarden and first grade school students on 5/22/08 by Mr Freeman, the Primary School Principal. The students were selected by Fountain Lake School management based on reading improvement merit. March 2008 Fountain Lake Second Grade School Bookcases & Books Awards  The Village Woodworkers built solid oak bookcases during the 2007 Winter. Thanks to Don Williams for hosting this project in his workshop, Bookcase Chairman Dick Herrmann for leading the project and the Truck Toy Team for building the 12 awarded bookcases.  Thanks also to the Hot Springs Area Community Foundation (HSACF) that provided grant funds for the purchase of new books that were included in the awards to 16 deserving students.  The bookcases and donated books were presented to Fountain Lake second grade school students on 3/20/08 by Mr Freeman, the Primary School Principal. The students were selected by Fountain Lake School management based on reading improvement merit. Spring 2007 Fountain Lake Kindergarden Bookcase Awards  The Village Woodworkers built small maple bookcases during the 2007 Spring. Thanks to Don Williams for hosting this project in his workshop and to Bookcase Chairman Dick Herrmann for leading the project. The bookcases and donated books were presented to selected Fountain Lake kindergarden class students on 5/31/07 by Mr Freeman, the Primary School Principal. The students were selected by Fountain Lake School management based on reading improvement merit. Spring 2007 Jessieville Bookcase Awards  The Village Woodworkers built small maple bookcases during the 2007 Spring. Thanks to Don Williams for hosting this project in his workshop and to Bookcase Chairman Dick Herrmann for leading the project.  The bookcases and donated books were presented to Jessieville grade school students on 5/24/07 by Mr Crumpler, the Primary School Principal and Denise Smith, the Jessieville Elementary Librarian. They selected the students based on reading improvement merit. Spring 2007 Fountain Lake Grade School Small Bookcase Donations  The Village Woodworkers built small oak and maple bookcases during the 2006 Winter. Thanks to Don Williams for hosting this project in his workshop and to Bookcase Chairman Dick Herrmann for leading the project. The bookcases and donated books were presented to Fountain Lake grade school students on 3/23/07 by Mr Freeman, the Primary School Principal. The students were selected by Fountain Lake School management based on reading improvement merit. Winter 2007 Fountain Lake Grade School Small Bookcase Donations  The Village Woodworkers built small oak and maple bookcases during the 2006 Fall and Winter. Thanks to Don Williams for hosting this project in his workshop and to Bookcase Chairman Dick Herrmann for leading the project. Ten small bookcases were donated to Fountain Lake second grade students in January 2007. The students were identified by Fountain Lake School management based on reading improvement merit. Winter 2007 Jessieville Grade School Small Bookcase Donations  The Village Woodworkers built small oak and maple bookcases during the 2006 Fall and Winter. Thanks to Don Williams for hosting this project in his workshop and to Bookcase Chairman Dick Herrmann for leading the project. Thanks to the HSV Optimists Club for the books in these awards. Eight small bookcases were donated to Fountain Lake second grade students in February 2007. The students were identified by Jessieville Grade School management. 2006 Fountain Lake Grade School Library Bookcases  The Village Woodworkers built 10 large oak bookcases during the 2006 Fall. Thanks to Don Williams for hosting this project in his workshop and to Bookcase Chairman Dick Herrmann for leading the project. These bookcases were donated to the Fountain Lake School District in December 2006.