Reading Tips

Submitted by: Executive Director Joan Wabschall At this time of year, I enjoy listening to Christmas carols and seeing the wonder of Christmas in the eyes of children. Many people are familiar with the lyrics to “All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth”, but a lesser known ...

Adapted from the classic poem by Clement C. Moore, excerpts borrowed from David Davis, Librarian’s Night Before Christmas. 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the stacks librarian’s were fretting about budget cutbacks. Doctors and nurses, physicians assistants too, Were wondering what in the world they would do. The ...

Submitted by: Kelly Bennett, Junior League of Austin Community Volunteer Growing up I struggled with reading and I definitely didn't think reading was fun. After college I joined an adult book club and started to enjoy reading for pleasure. I also switched careers and became an elementary teacher. I really ...

Submitted by: Joan Wabschall, R.N., M.S., Executive Director “Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” -A.A. Milne,  “Winnie-the-Pooh” Thanksgiving is a perfect time to give thanks to all the wonderful people who support the mission of BookSpring.  ...

Submitted by: Jill González, Director of Programs It seems appropriate during this Thanksgiving month to stop and acknowledge one of our greatest supporters at BookSpring. Michele Walker-Moak and the Applied Materials Foundation have actively and generously supported the work of BookSpring since 2001, donating more than $343,000, and we are ...

Submitted by: Austin Tharp, BookSpring Book Hero When you read you feel like you’re on an adventure. You feel the triumphs and sorrows of the characters. Sometimes you feel as if you are one of the characters, and sometimes you feel like the story is unfolding before your eyes. Reading ...

Submitted by Shelley Renee, Read-A-Thon Program Manager As I drive around the Austin area visiting schools to promote the 2014 Read-A-Thon I hear so many stories from librarians about the joy that reading brings their students. I recently visited an elementary school that participates in BookSpring’s Read-A-Thon and Reading is ...

Submitted by Executive Director Joan Wabschall, R.N., M.S. Who comes up with these designations for specific days?  Although I can’t answer that question, I have decided to use October 19th as a reason to report on the many activities going on at BookSpring. Our programs are in full swing and ...

Submitted by Altaira Wallquist I can’t ever remember not loving to read. My mom tells me that on the way home from my first day of Kindergarten, I was disappointed because we didn’t learn to read the first day. I did learn by Christmas and I’ve been in the middle ...

Submitted by: Austin Tharp, BookSpring Book Hero It all started when Mrs. Ayres, my after-school art teacher at Doss, told me about the BookSpring drawing contest. I drew a drawing, thinking my chances were one in a million. A week or so later, we got a call. Mom said, “Austin, ...

Submitted by: Marty Kennedy, BookSpring Volunteer Remember when, as a child, you realized for the first time there was something beyond the limited world of yourself? Outside the house, city, state, country and earth where you lived? Could it have been when you noticed the twinkle of numberless stars in ...

Submitted by Kaye and Randy Patterson, Champions of BookSpring Being a Grandparent is great!! For many years as a parent, there was always the worry that decisions on raising your children wouldn't prove to be right. The arrival of grandchildren (and recently a great-grand daughter) tends to ratify the choices ...

Submitted by Amanda Shaver, Volunteer Manager This summer, I was fortunate enough to be selected to take on the position of BookSpring’s volunteer manager.  As a social worker and a former teacher, this is a new role for me, but it is one that I feel truly passionate about.  Connecting ...

Submitted by: Mindy Gomillion, BookSpring Board Member Today is National Senior Citizens Day, a time to celebrate the wisdom and achievements of older people. We’d like to take this opportunity to recognize one of the Champions of BookSpring for his extraordinary contributions to our society. Born in 1924 in Bonham, ...

Submitted by Jill Gonzalez, Director of Programs Are you headed out of town this summer? Or are you having a staycation? Either way, make sure to pack a good book! When you read, you can go anywhere! One of the favorite motivational activities of BookSpring’s Reading is Fundamental (RIF) librarians, ...

Submitted by Jill González Director of Programs  This year, Austin Independent School District (AISD) will hold summer library programs at 22 campuses. 13 of these schools are active in BookSpring’s Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program. BookSpring recently held a Book-Give-Away for librarians at these campuses, giving out over 3,000 books ...

Submitted by Mary Reynolds, Rotary Club of Austin The Rotary Club of Austin and its members love to do book drives for BookSpring because they know it puts books in the hands of children who may not have any in their homes. We also know that real books give these ...

Submitted by Heather Stephens, Librarian, McBee Elementary At McBee Elementary we have had great success coordinating one of our week-long Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) distributions during school hours with an after-school Family Literacy Night and Book Swap. I am fortunate to work with a supportive team of reading coaches and ...

Submitted By Tara Hall, Director of Finance My daughter Sara is now in her 20’s but I will always cherish the years when she was 4 and 5. Times were difficult as I was newly divorced and raising Sara on my own. We looked forward to Saturdays when we would ...

BookSpring's Inaugural Storybook Heroes Luncheon Concludes with a Storybook Ending Rep. Mark Strama, Texas House of Representatives, Keynote Speaker Judge Amy Clark Meachum 201st Judicial District Civil Court, Travis County; BookSpring Board President Cliff Collier, General Manager, Howdy Honda; Presenting Sponsor BookSpring launched its inaugural Storybook Heroes Luncheon at St ...

On Thursday, August 9th, Congressman John Carter will read to a waiting room full of children in support of Reach Out and Read (ROR), a program that that trains medical providers to advise parents about the importance of reading aloud and to give free books to children at check-ups from ...

The future of this country relies on our youth. On the most basic level, a person that cannot read will always be dependent on someone else for their information." - Cliff Collier, General Manager of Howdy Honda Being a responsible member of the Austin community is part of the Howdy ...

Thanks to Little Beans for choosing BookSpring as the non-profit of the month. Stop by and visit our friends at http://www.lilgreenbeans.com/, shop and drop off a gently used children's book. Little Green Beans: MyFoxAUSTIN.com ...

BookSpring is honored to be featured this month by KUT Austin! watch KUT's Get Involved: BookSpring Thanks to our friends at I Live Here, I Give Here, KUT interviewed Blacksheer librarian, Amanda Braziel, and volunteer, Mary Reynolds, about their experiences with BookSpring programs! Then KUT was treated to a special ...

Wow! The Rotary Clubs all over Austin are partnering with Papa Noel Christmas Trees to collect donated gently used children's books! BookSpring will place donated books throughout Austin in medical clinics and with our literacy non-profit partners! BookSpring is honored to have a new partner with Papa Noel Christmas trees ...

Crystal Cotti from Sylvan Learning appeared on FOX News 7 and discusses the issues facing our community. Thanks Crystal for featuring BookSpring and our work ...

This holiday season the Austin area Rotary clubs are partnering with Papa Noel Christmas trees and the Austin Optimist Club to collect gently used children's books! Donations can be dropped off at 7 area locations for the month of December! Thank you Fred Hanson of the Austin Area Rotary Club ...

BookSpring Announces 2011 Read-A-Thon Sponsors Howdy Honda returns as the Presenting Sponsor for the 2011 Read-A-Thon.  As presenting sponsor, Howdy Honda  has supported the community wide event benefitting BookSpring's literacy programs in the Greater Austin area since 2008. "We are grateful for Howdy Honda's continuing support for this unique community event that brings ...

Turkey Trot raises $200,000 for Caritas This year's ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving raised a record $200,000 for Caritas of Austin thanks to a boost in attendance. The sub shop chain, with 24 stores in the Austin area, presented the local nonprofit with a check Monday. The event has ...