Here's one for the books!
When Tooele's West Elementary School identified a need for library books as a major concern, the local PTA went to work.Okey Ferrell, who subsequently became president of the organization, started by thinking big.
"I called the Smithsonian (Institution, in Washington, D.C.). They referred me to the Library of Congress, which referred me to Rep. Jim Hansen," said Ferrell.
Hansen, Utah's 1st District representative, was aware of a Library of Congress program to share excess books with schools that have experienced major disasters, such as a flood or earthquake. The Tooele school didn't meet those criteria, but the national library has expanded the program because the demand was not as large as the supply.
Through the congressman's office, arrangements were made to acquire some of the Library of Congress surplus for Tooele. The project became a community effort as local businesses contributed to the cost of getting Ferrell to the national capital to arrange for the transfer of the books. The school chipped in some of its book fair proceeds from last year.
So Ferrell flew to Washington.
Books? "So many books you wouldn't believe it," the Utahn said.
The Madison Library, one of three buildings in which the Library of Congress stores some of its collections, "would take up a whole block if they brought it to Tooele," he said. The library amasses about seven million books per day, Ferrell says.
But Ferrell found himself with a new challenge: The children's literature section was closed when he arrived in Washington.
He found help from an unexpected source - LDS missionaries serving in the Washington area. "I'm not a Mormon, but some of our board members are. We called the mission and asked for help."
Four missionaries went to the director of the section and asked to have the shelves opened. And they helped Ferrell, who has minimal use of his hands and arms, to select 270 books.
A final hurdle - how to get the books back to Utah - was resolved when Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, joined his fellow congressman in offering to pay the costs of shipping the books home.
The final result? A celebration this past week at West Elementary as students rejoiced in what will be the first installment of new books for their library.
The books will continue to come every month or so "for as long as Hansen is in office, I guess," said Jody Ellsworth, who will be West's PTA president next year.
The school's librarian, Becky Christley, said the infusion of new books is "wonderful. We're excited at the prospects of being able to upgrade our library."
State and district budgets for new library acquisitions never cover the need, she said. Many of the volumes on the shelves in her library are in need of culling, including "history" books that predate man's walk on the moon, let alone the dissolution of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. But she finds it hard to part with a book, even one that is outdated.
During a special assembly Wednesday, West's students thanked their community and school leaders for the books now going onto their library shelves and the books still to come.
For Ferrell, the rewards came in little moments like the one when Andrea Shosted and Erin York sought him out between classes.
"Mr. Ferrell, we want to thank you for our books," said Andrea, speaking for herself and several hundred other students who will make use of the collection.