The Books for Soldiers program is a unique activity of the
Blount County Friends of the Library. In the eleven months from
January 1 2007 to November , seven FOL members have sent 228
boxes containing 3,370 books, 200 magazines and 50 CD's and
DVD's to members of the US military deployed overseas. These
boxes go to all branches of our military stationed in many areas
of the world and on ships at sea.
A few years ago, someone in South Carolina saw some National
Guard friends deployed overseas just as he was preparing to
move. He had several boxes of books he didn’t want to move so
he sent them to those friends. As others noticed and he began
to receive requests for specific books, this grew into a project
undertaken by his church. It has now grown into a website where
any US troops can post a request for books and other materials.
Individuals who wish to help fill these requests must fill out
an application and be certified by a Notary Public to gain access
to troop requests.
Through the generosity of donors in our community the Friends
of the Library receive many duplicate copies and paperbacks
of popular books. So we became a certified volunteer. Individuals
search the website for troop requests, then search the bookshelves
in the basement for donated books that can fill these requests.
They usually fill group requests of a general nature, such as;
“my platoon would appreciate books, magazines, DVD movies and/or
games for recreation during downtime”. Each box includes a form
letter telling a little about Blount County and our library
and a personal note of appreciation for the work our troops
are doing.
Many times individual troops request specific types of books,
often of an educational nature. Recently one volunteer filled
a request for textbooks on German language; another a request
for improving writing skills and use of English language; and
yet another a request for books on starting and running a small
business. Chaplains ask for books to explain Christianity simply,
coping with parenting from a distance, and more usual religious
topics. One chaplain asked for guitar music to help in worship
– we found several appropriate music books and a couple of CDs.
We have even sent children’s books to a couple of units that
requested them so parents could be taped and webcast reading
to their children, and to a hospital for the waiting room for
visiting children.
The Friends of the Library cannot spend any of their money
for purposes not directly related to library needs. So this
program is run entirely through donations to cover postage.
At the quarterly book sales donation boxes are set on the table
and people asked to donate a dollar or two when they purchase
books.
We receive thank you notes, both through the US mail and through
Friends’ e-mail. Units have sent letters,
certificates  of
appreciation, and even an American flag. A bulletin board with
some of these thank you notes is on display at each book sale.
Many thank you notes are posted directly to the booksforsoldiers
website (www.booksforsoldiers.com).
According to these notes, knowing that the people in this country
stand behind our armed forces personnel is deeply appreciated
by those who are deployed. They are impressed and pleased that
total strangers would think of them and send care packages to
them.
You can support this program in two important ways. You can
send a check to the BCFOL at 504 N. Cusick St, Maryville TN,
37804 with a note “books for soldiers postage donation”, or
you can become a volunteer. Volunteers must follow certain procedures,
and must be willing to spend 2-3 hours once or twice a month.
If you are interested, please contact Vivian Selecman at 379-2568,
or Selecman@msn.com
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the Knoxville Oak Ridge Regional Network