Book Drive Contest Winners

Due to the amazing response of over 450 donations in just one month, I added a bonus winner to the contest.  The four winners are:

lil d, who sent: Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir, by Azar Nafisi, Empress Orchid by Anchee Min, and The Eagles - Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975.

emily, who sent: My Not-So-Terrible Time at the Hippie Hotel, by Rosemary Graham, Keeping You a Secret, by Julie Anne Peters, and Freaky Green Eyes, by Joyce Carol Oates.

jennifer, a local who sent: A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly and The Fate of the Romanovs by Greg King.

and finally:  

Janice, who sent: Leonardo Da Vinci, by Sherwin B. Nuland, and Leonardo da Vinci (Masters of Art), by Jack Wasserman  

 
Congratulations to these four winners and thanks again for everybody who has helped the book drive so far this year.  It's been an amazing experience.

Letter From a Rancho Librarian

Pamie -

As your book drive for San Diego County Library comes to a close, the community of Rancho San Diego wants to express its sincere thanks for your thoughtfulness and the generosity of your readers. The books we've been sent have built our collection up and provided more of what our customers want and need. If there is anyone still looking for the opportunity to contribute books to our library, the youth services list has been expanded to include several variations on Jack and the Beanstalk, as well as books on the Olympics, something we definitely need more of in this Olympics year!

We continue to be touched by the response to this drive. Thanks to everyone, far and wide!

Sincerely,
Barbara Sutton
Youth Services Librarian
San Diego County Library
Rancho San Diego Branch
11555 Via Rancho San Diego
El Cajon, CA 92019
619-660-6325
www.sdcl.org

We've Reached 451!

Dear Pamie,

I sent the San Marcos Youth Library 2 copies of "1000 Palabras en Inglés" (1000 words in English). They wanted 2, so that's what I sent them. You know, one for Spanish-to-English and one for English-to-Spanish. (Hee.)

1000 palabras en inglés (Berlitz Kids)
1000 palabras en inglés (Berlitz Kids)

This stuff is contagious.

Davida

Hi Pamie,

Just adding my voice to the masses--this book drive is awesome, as are your recaps on TWoP.

Anyway, I donated the The American History Cookbook to the el Cajon Branch library, because I love food with stories, and I definitely have used the library to get recipes and cookbooks.

Naomi

Hi Pamie-

I just sent the San Marcos Branch:

Matilda by Roald Dahl
The BFG by Roald Dahl (loved Roald Dahl growing up, and still do - these are two of my favorites though)
and
Así es Josefina, una niña americana (The American Girls Collection) by Valerie Tripp (I devoured the American Girls books when I was younger!)

I visit my local library about once a week, and have been doing so since I was very young- I can't imagine not being able to have free access to books!

Thank you for organizing this!
Stefany

Hiya Pamie,

I donated the following books to the Ramona Branch of the San Diego County Library system:

Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim by David Sedaris
Never, Ever Shout in a Zoo by Karma Wilson
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory  by Roald Dahl

I'm off to guzzle coffee in a diner and read my own library books!

Erica

Pam,

 I honestly thought I was done donating this year.  However, I noticed today that in a thank-you note I received from a  librarian that the plural of boy was spelled "boy's".  Since I am currently reading Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss, I felt compelled to donate a copy.  I searched for a branch that had this book on their wish list and found Santee.  Since I refuse to pay for shipping, I also included a copy of the The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler.  Of course, this might have been a ploy to get me to donate again, similar to the shopkeeper described in the book who deliberately stuck ungrammatical signs in his window as a ruse to draw people into his shop.

I'd like this donation to be anonymous.  I don't want any trail that might lead to the identification of the kind librarian who wrote the thank-you note (and I know my own writing is far from perfect).  I'll leave it to your readers to point out all the mistakes I've made in this e-mail.

Hi Pamie,

Just writing to let you know that I sent hardcover (yay hardcover books!) copies of George's Marvelous Medicine and Tupac Shakur's The Rose That Grew from Concrete to the San Marcos Library.

Hope we break 400!

best,
m

Because of the last-minute request from you and from the Rancho San Diego Library, I've donated a couple more books to their Youth list:

DK Readers: Going for Gold (Level 4: Proficient Readers)
Ghost World
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Vol. 1
and
Jack and the Beanstalk

I REALLY hope you reach your goal of 400 by the end of the weekend. But, if not, you have still made a huge difference.

Thanks for helping me feel SO good about myself (and letting people read in the process)!

DeAnn

Some of You Are Getting Addicted To This...

Hi Pamie,

I read the letter from the librarian at the El Cajon branch, and got inspired to donate yet again - third time this year.

I sent the following:

Prehistoric Art: The Symbolic Journey of Humankind - because I'm off to see some prehistoric art in about a month.

Elections A to Z (American Government S.)- because it sounded like the kind of book the librarian who wrote would find helpful.

I don't have my own web site, but if you could link to bpib.com for me, I would appreciate it.

A side benefit of this book drive is it got me into my OWN public library for the first time in quite a while.

Jeri

Pamie,

I had so much fun donating the first time, I decided to do it again. The Ramona Branch is getting:

Morality for Beautiful Girls (No.1 Ladies Detective Agency)
The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King (Widescreen Edition) 

This time I even managed to push the right button so they'll be shipped directly to the library.

Nysha

Hey Pamie --

In an attempt to make sure we reach the 400 mark, M. Giant and I are sending off a few more books. The San Marcos Branch Library will soon receive:

Tuck para siempre 
The Austere Academy (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 5) 
Esperanza Rising: Esperanza Renace
The Miserable Mill (A Series of Unfortunate Events, Book 4)

I chose the San Marcos Branch because of Betty Waznis at the San Diego County Library. I picked these books because M. Giant LOVES Lemony Snicket, and the other two books were must-haves.

Thanks again for spearheading this.

-trash

Pamie,

It's way late in the game but I just sent my donation to the Valley Center branch... the fact that their list was for YA books is what got me. I have a special fondness for that genre, plus with the recent passing of Paula Danziger, it was just meant to be.

So, three "Mates, Dates" books and one "Gossip Girl" book are on their way.

Mates, Dates, and Cosmic Kisses (Mates, Dates)  by Cathy Hopkins
Mates, Dates, and Sole Survivors (Mates, Dates) by Cathy Hopkins
Mates, Dates, and Designer Divas (Mates, Dates) by Cathy Hopkins
I Like It Like That: A Gossip Girl Novel

Regards,

Jenny

The Lincoln Acres Branch will be receiving:

Drawing Dynamic Comics by Andy Smith
Where the Sidewalk Ends : Poems and Drawings by Shel Silverstein
Boards : The Art and Design of Skateboard by Jacob Hoye
The Boxcar Children: Books 1-4 (Boxcar Children, No 1-4) by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Mary Ann

Hi Pamie,

I just wanted to let you know that the Casa de Oro Branch Library will be receiving Junie B. Jones CD Edition: Books 1-8 [UNABRIDGED] as well as PC Annoyances: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things About Your Personal Computer. As a librarian in a city that has the means and makes the choice to support its library, I’m thrilled to pass on a little of my good fortune to other librarians.

Amanda
Adult Services Librarian
Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library

Hey Pamie-

I donated to Ramona Branch Library.

Garfield Gets Cookin: His 38th Book 
Garfield Beefs Up: His 37th Book  
Garfield: Survival of the Fattest : His 40th Book  

Thanks for organizing this!

-bmh

Hi Pamie - 

As a newcomer to your website, I was excited to discover this book drive.  I've sent the following books to the Valley Central Branch (YA).  Hopefully they will inspire a new generation of readers, who might turn into future pamie.com readers.

One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies by Sonya Sones
Pirates! by Celia Rees
White Is for Magic by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Blue Is for Nightmares by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Gail

Pam:

I just wanted to drop a line saying that the Lincoln Acres Branch Library will now be enjoying 2 wonderful Shel Silverstein books: Where the Sidewalk Ends : Poems and Drawings and A Light in the Attic.  I remember reading them at my grade school library when I was a kid, and really, no child should go without the Shel. I finally got off my ass, and donated. And they say people in the entertainment industry don't have a heart.

Take care!
Jon

Letter From a San Marcos Librarian

Hi Pamie,

My name is Katrina, and I am the Youth Services Librarian at the San Marcos Branch of the San Diego County Library.

Thanks to your efforts in promoting SDCL's Amazon wish lists, we are the lucky recipients of 18 books (so far)! Since our information was posted in your bookdrive blog, we have been steadily receiving shipments from people across the country! I am overwhelmed and not just a little choked up as items arrive here at the branch.

Thank you so much for thinking of us -- what a wonderful gift to the children and teens in our community!

Gratefully,
Katrina Neville
Youth Services Librarian
San Marcos Branch
San Diego County Library

Letter From a Lakeside Branch Librarian

Dear Pamie,

Many thanks to all of the people who have purchased books for the Lakeside Library. Best sellers, history, legal guides and reference books have come in from Washington, Texas, New York and even, London, England! Just the other day, I had a customer who needed a book on how to become a legal guardian for a child. I noticed that our copy was lost. I put a new edition on my wish list and within days I had it in my hands. Talk about real time collection development!

As other librarians for our system have commented, the library has been a great resource of comfort and rebuilding for members of our communities. Though our community was especially hard hit by the wildfires last fall, Lakeside's renowned "cowboy spirit" has pulled them through. To read more about Lakeside and our history, visit the Lakeside Historical Society's website.

Thank you, Pamela, for raising awareness about the plight of libraries in San Diego county, but of libraries everywhere.

Donna Ohr
Branch Librarian
Lakeside Branch Library
(619) 443-1660

Hi Pamie!

I hope you're doing well, and that the drugs are working.

I received a letter today from the Beverly Public Library in Beverly, Massacusetts. I did an Amazon wishlist search for libraries in my area and Beverly. I was intrigued because Beverly is near Boston and the affluent cities of Cape Cod; how much help could they need as a well-situated city with access to both money and political input? Turn out, they are just as affected by budget cuts as a small library branch in Western Massachusetts or California. Here's the letter (you got a shout-out as well!):

On behalf of the Beverly Public Library and the Trustees of the Beverly Public Library, please accept my sincere thanks for your generous donation to the Beverly Public Library of Hoax by Nicholas Von Hoffman. Thank you also for giving credit to Pamela Ribon.

This past year our book budget was cut by approximately 80%. This left very little money for books, magazine subscriptions, and newspapers. We are grateful for your support of the library because it makes it possible for us to provide much-needed books for our patrons.

Again, thank you!

Sincerely,
Thomas F. Scully, library director

Eighty percent. Ridiculous.

I wanted to show you this letter to let you see the difference you're making, slowly, all over the country. I'm on the other coast, but am urging everyone I know to not only help out the San Diego library system, but local branches as well. I'll be talking to the English Club at Framingham State College this fall to see if we can figure out a similar program for the library. Their budget is currently at ZERO. I'm also trying to get my friends and co-workers registered to vote so that we can try to send the message to our lawmakers that this gutting of the arts and public works is unacceptable. It would have taken me quite a long time to realize the problem and figure out a way to ease it if it hadn't been for pamie.com.

Thanks for doing this, Pamie. And thanks for taking time out to read this letter.

-Vikky

Hi Pamie,

Since my fist and small donation, I have been wondering how I could contribute more to this cause. Books and libraries were such and important part of my childhood and adolescence, and still play a major part in my adult life, that it bothers me to think that there are children out there without access to fantastic literature. I noticed that a small library was somewhat later in posting their wishlist. And since I just got paid - there was money burning a hole in my pocket.

I just wanted to let you know that the Campo-Morena Village Library will be receiving:

Storey's Guide to Raising Poultry: Breeds, Care, Health by Leonard S. Mercia
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things by Carolyn Mackler
A Series of Unfortunate Events #1 by Lemony Snicket - audio cassette with Tim Curry narrating (how exciting!)
and
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares (audio cassette).

Thanks,
Amy

Late to the party, but always happy to contribute:

Some spanish books sent to the San Marcos branch:

Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Spanish Edition, The

El Capitan Calzoncillos Y LA Invasion De Las Horribles Camareras: (Y El Subsiguiente Asalto De Los Igual De Horribles Zombis Malvados Del Comedor) : L ... a Novela Epica (Captain Underpants (Spanish))

1000 palabras en inglés (Berlitz Kids)

Can I just say that the title El Capitan Calzoncillos freakin' rules?

omar

Donation #400!

Pamie--

Just wanted to let you know that I donated a copy of Myth-O-Mania: Get to Work, Hercules! to the Poway children's library. I visited Poway in September of 1999 when I was traveling with Up with People, so I decided I would make my donation to a community that has played a small but significant role in my life. I chose Myth-O-Mania because I loved mythology when I was a kid...and still do!

Best wishes with the continued success of the book drive!

Erin

Little Lincoln Acres branch is getting Coaching Girls' Softball off their wish list, in honor of the upcoming Olympics. Girls rock!

-anonymous

Hey Pam,

Today I got the nicest card from Donna M. at the Vista Branch in Vista, CA. She thanked me for the four books I sent and asked if I’d like a bookplate with my name in them! She was also surprised that someone from the Midwest would take the time and effort to browse their list and make a donation to a library that they’ve never seen nor visited. I’ve mentioned your book drive on my blog a few times, so hopefully that throws a few more donations their way. I just wish more people would donate!

Anyway, thanks again for the opportunity to improve my karma and make some children happy with new books to read!

Meghan
Adult Services Paraprofessional
Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library

Hi Pamie,

I hope you're feeling better. It looks like you're having fun on the vicodan at least.

I donated the following books to the YA section of the Valley Center Branch:

The Queen of Everything, by Deb Caletti

A Great and Terrible Beauty, by Libba Bray

The True Meaning of Cleavage, by Mariah Fredericks

I lived at the library in my small town when I was in the YA demographic, and I wish I could say that I've read these books and they have great meaning for me, but I pretty much picked them on the coolness of their names. :-)

This is a wonderful thing that you're doing. Good luck with the rest of the drive!

-Miss M

Letter From an Alpine Branch Librarian

Pamie,

Thank you so much for connecting us to such generous people. We are so excited to see new books arrive and our customers are so grateful. You must be rewarded over and over again for all your good deeds!

Thanks to all who have purchased books for the San Diego County Library system. All of our branches share the wealth since all of our titles are interchanged among the 32 branches and two bookmobiles. It is a wonderful thing.

We welcome all of our donors from near and far to come and visit us if you are ever in our neighborhood. We would love to meet you!

-From all the staff at the Alpine Library.

I’m late to the book drive. I have been broke, broke, broke since all of our money has been heading straight into the pocket of local wedding vendors.

1 of The Purpose-Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For?

1 of Lost In Translation (Widescreen Edition)

1 of Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread (NEWBERY MEDAL BOOK)

I sent my books to the Jacumba Branch.

Erin