AMERICAN FORK -- Karyl Warnick oversees a small reading nook tucked away in a corner at the Utah State Developmental Center.
Patrons of her tiny library with a few thousand books don't read much.But they love books. Especially big, splashy, colorful books packed with pictures of airplanes, heavy machinery and animals.
Warnick's job at the 65-year-old state-operated facility for the severely disabled includes making sure residents of the care center have a place to relax with a good book.
Hampered by physical and mental challenges, few have been able to grasp the concept of reading, however. "We don't have a lot of people who can read."
But nearly all of the center's residents adore looking at pictures and listening to family, friends or staff members read to them, Warnick said.
"Our little library is small," she says, "but they really do like people to come in and read to them."
A recent purchase of big coffee-table books have been extremely popular.
"We bought a few of those," she said. "They've been really interested in those, especially the one with the tractors. There's a lot of interest in that one."
Unlike the institutions of previous eras, the developmental center, which also boasts a special-education center of the Alpine School District, tries to help the residents of the facility learn day-to-day living and educational skills. "It may take a year to learn to sand a piece of wood, but they come right on in and get to work," Warnick said.
Like other public education institutions, though, the developmental center struggles with funding. Not much money can be spared for buying books.
Much of the center's collection came from a Nephi school that was restocking its library. Donations also help fill the shelves -- and help is needed.
As part of the Deseret News' special page dedicated to reading, the newspaper each month features a particular school's book "wish list."
The list includes what is needed at the schools and what books educators would buy if their wishes were granted.
Warnick wishes community members would give the center large books filled with pictures for the center's residents to peruse. True, most of the people who visit her library can't read -- but they can still enjoy the pictures of a good book.
Readers, parents, businesses and philanthropists are encouraged to donate such reading materials. Karyl Warnick can be contacted at the Developmental Center, 895 N. 900 East, American Fork, UT 84007. Her phone number is 801-763-4195.
If your school needs specific books, please fax your request to the Deseret News, attention Mary Finch, (801) 237-2121.