JOHNSTOWN - Something as simple as a book can change a life. That's why students and teachers from Greater Johnstown High School are making sure books are accessible to all children in the city.
They're putting library boxes in neighborhoods so kids can find a love for reading and be more prepared for school.
Read, return, repeat. Children in Johnstown will soon be able to do just that with library boxes throughout the city.
“Really geared towards improving literacy rates among those in elementary schools,” said Devin Carosi, Social Studies teacher and Interact Club adviser at Greater Johnstown High School.
A dream that's finally coming true for Carosi after receiving a grant from the community foundation for the Alleghenies. Carosi came up with the idea several years ago while in graduate school.
"It takes a village sometimes to create some of these projects so it coming to fruition is really heartwarming and hopefully the community feels the same way,” Carosi said.
24 of the library boxes will be placed throughout Johnstown. If a child wants a book, they just have to take one from the box, bring it home to enjoy then return the book and take another.
So, no need to worry about library fees. Students in Mr. Carosi's interact club are organizing where the boxes will be. Once the weather is nice, you'll see them in front of stores and banks in neighborhoods not near the public library including Roxbury, Moxham and Oakland.
"In my 4 years, he's been my teacher or advisor, he's a coach and all sorts of things. He's given us a lot of things to have passions for and he's pushed us to work a lot harder and he's made all of our little dreams come true so we want to make his little dream come true,” said Katrina Mauersberg who is a senior at the high school.
The school's Summit Learning Academy students are helping too by designing the blueprints and building each box that look like little houses.
“I always wanted to be engineer and architecture and by doing this I know like I love building and sitting on computer and designing it and my teacher knows how well I can do in class so he gave me the hard part of building the roof and helping other kids out," said Quentin Tyndale who is a senior.
A hands on experience they'll remember forever.
“When you have the right project, it really becomes easy so when the kids are able to come and be excited about a project and know it’s going to be in community and leave a legacy. They will be able to say hey, I helped design that thing,” said Mar Mosoriak who is a technology education teacher at the school.
Nonperishable food, warm clothes and books of course can be placed in the boxes by anyone.
“It’s really cool, it's inspiring. I think a lot of us take for granted the fact that we have access to a library here and I can go out and buy books whenever I want. I have a ton of books that collect dust. It’s nice to be a part of something bigger than ourselves for once,” Mauersberg said.
“I feel really good about, I feel special I’m helping other kids get books or libraries from the poor to the rich, I feel really good I’m giving to the community,” Tyndale said.
With each word read on every page, children will learn and connect with their parents.
“If that happens to one kid, one parent we are going to build 100 more of these so I hope we kind of expand from here but if it does the job bringing one home together than we've done right,” Carosi said.
If you do take a book and decide to keep or share it, just bring a different book back to the box.
Friday happens to be Dr. Suess day so Carosi's interact club will start coordinating where these boxes will go.
They're still looking for businesses in different neighborhoods that would allow them to put a box outside of their door.
If your business would like to adopt a box, email msinger@conemaugh.org or dcarosi@gjsd.net.
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