Open Books Closes the Learning Gap
As if on cue, the moment I arrived at Open Books two yellow school buses pulled up, and a group of students spilled out from its doors. The kids were all smiles as they jumped onto the sidewalk turning this way and that, nudging the shoulders and backpacks of their friends. And then they did what 5th graders do when their chaperones emerge - they formed a single line. Inside the second floor of this brownstone building, located in Chicago's River North neighborhood, is where their creative writing class will take place. But today there will be no tests or grades to fret about - at Open Books learning is fun. And that's exactly what makes it work so well.
Open Books is a nonprofit social venture started in 2006 by executive director, Stacy Ratner, an entrepreneur with degrees in both law and literature. When she learned that 44 percent of 4th grade students had trouble reading, she decided to do something - fast. What started as an idea for a tutoring program and a collection of books in her basement quickly grew into a used bookstore carrying over 50,000 titles and four signature literacy programs, staffed by 3,000 passionate volunteers. They have a major presence at the Chicago Tribune's annual Printer's Row Lit Fest the first weekend in June, and this year was no exception.
Just as books have the ability to transport readers to another place so, too, does Open Books Bookstore. With bookcases awash in Caribbean colors to comfortable reading nooks and an expanded children's section, Open Books is every bookworm's dream. Imagine leafing through an historical novel in front of a decorated fireplace while relaxing on a sofa, or watching your child select a favorite picture book from a shelf that is just her height. You'll find all that and more at this second hand store where literacy rules. "We're always busy and I wouldn't have it any other way," says Becca Keaty, director of external relations.
Every title received is donated, and the books are also sold online. Their recycling program allows Open Books to handle the generous volume received from its donors. They have everything here from best sellers, like Stieg Larson's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo to first editions and rare books. "It's part of what makes us unique - our ability to accept all kinds of books from popular fiction to encyclopedias," Keaty said.
There is something to be said for the friendly staff and volunteers who are able to locate a book at a moment's notice by tapping into their organized inventory system. They will even place a coveted title on their "watch list" and call you the second it arrives. All the books are of excellent quality and absolutely affordable. You will not find any dog-eared copies or musty old books in the store. Monthly sales keep the stock moving. On June 18 and 19th for example, all books were half off. Using this give-get-give formula, Open Books turns over 5 percent of donated books to low-income families. Consumers can revel in the knowledge that the proceeds from book sales are working hard to promote literacy and change lives. The most important way they do that is through their programs.
Open Book Buddies pairs up tutors and students for weekly one-on-one mentoring at elementary schools. This program targets students in schools that have the highest need, and where they can gain administrative approval. "We strive to cover schools all over the city," Keaty says. "And we hope they (students) will pay it forward by sharing a book with a cousin or sibling." The feedback they get from teachers is astounding, as fluency, rate, context clues and comprehension are affected.
Children are often able to increase their reading levels by one or two grades. Most important is that the volunteers pass on their own love of reading.
Adventures in Creative Writing Field Trips are held onsite in modern classrooms like "The Room of a Thousand Words" or "Classroom Number#2", named after the pencil. Keaty and I joined a class already in session, where tables of about five students each were fast at work. They were developing a character based on a random picture they had been given by program director, Anna Piepmeyer. When the students elected someone to read their story aloud to the class, there was applause all around. Piepmeyer held up the photo as the student read aloud, and we learned that the man shown running with a red balloon is about to be married!
In another creative writing class variation, students wear the now infamous pencil costume when reading their stories. Their work is captured in a journal they can take home to share.
VWrite High school juniors are matched with virtual volunteer mentors over an eight-week span. This is a critical time for students who may need help in deciphering college applications or having someone review a college essay they wrote. There are first resumes to look over as students begin developing professional writing and communication skills. Students and their mentors meet face-to-face initially, but rely on the phone and e-mail to communicate. Understanding how e-mail communication works on a professional level is a huge benefit to the 33 percent of high school graduates preparing to enter college.
ReadThenWrite is a new, about-to-launch, immersive reading, writing and publishing program for teens. Workshops will show students how to craft their wonderful, inner voices into a published work. The rewards will be sweet as they are given the chance to present their stories or poems at a special event in the bookstore. Imagine that!
To learn more about Open Books events and programs or to volunteer, visit www.open-books.org.
Barbara Moriarty has a Master of Science in Written Communications from National-Louis University. She is often seen penning short articles and stories when en route to the city.
Article was reprinted from the June/July 2011 issue of Clips.