West U has a fantastic collection of interesting and current books and learning resources, thanks primarily to the generous financial partnership with parents, grandparents, and friends of the school.  The primary source of library funding comes from the Birthday Book Club and the fall annual Barnes & Noble Book Fair.  In the past 8 years, these funds have purchased several thousand books, eleven new Compaq student work stations, and approximately 3,500 new AR quizzes.  The Magazine Sales Drive that is held in the spring funds the clerical position in the library.

Thank you to our wonderful financial partners!! 

INFORMATION:  

• BIRTHDAY BOOK CLUB:  Students are invited to come to the school library to pick out a brand-new book to be donated to our school library in honor of their special day!  What is the procedure?  Parents will go to the front office to fill out a donation form and pay a library donation fee in the amount of $25.00.  Next, a birthday book card and envelope will be delivered to your child's teacher.  The student receives permission from his/her teacher to bring the birthday card to the library.  They will select a book from the "Birthday Book Club" shelf in the library.  The birthday card is placed inside the book and delivered to the librarian for processing by PTO personnel.  This takes place within a couple of days.  A special "Birthday Book Club"  bookplate is placed in the front of the book with the student's name and birthday printed on it.  They will have the privilege of being the first person to check out and read the book!  Finally, the birthday book is delivered to the student at their classroom.  Students will then return their birthday book to the library in a timely fashion so that it can be checked out to others.  Congratulations on choosing this unique way to celebrate your birthday and thank you for supporting our library!!!

• BOOK FAIR:    The 2007-2008 annual book fair was held at Barnes & Noble Booksellers located at Vanderbilt Square,3003 W. Holcombe Blvd.  The dates were Wednesday through Friday, November 28, 29,and 30.  There were lots of activities.  There was an author visit and book signing by local author, Susan K. Mitchell.  Entertainment was provided by student violinists and our school choir and by a very special magician, Harry Potter!    Bookmarks designed by student winners were sold to our patrons.  Students in grades 1-5 entered a short story contest writing about the adventures of our Book Fair mascot, Inky the Octopus!   We very much appreciate all of the books that were purchased for the library collection, as well as for our teachers' classrooms!!!

• MAGAZINE SALES DRIVE:      The annual magazine drive is sponsored by the QSP Readers Digest Company and its representative, John Sanford.  Students, faculty and parents are invited to renew and purchase magazines of their choice from the QSP catalog listings.  These orders are collected from students for two weeks following spring break.  No money is collected or turned in at this time.  An invoice will be mailed for all magazine orders that are submitted.  Students are awarded thank-you prizes based upon the number of magazines subscriptions that they sell.  Teachers are awarded classroom prizes based upon the number of magazine subscriptions that their students have sold.  This year our students have been collecting furry little "Weepul" characters which made them eligible for additional door prizes.  Each Weepul was given a number and the winning numbers are posted on the door of the library each day for the duration of the sale:  March 25 through April 3.  In addition: you can save time and GO ONLINE!  Using the Internet is the easiest way to support our sale.  Please be aware that all of these online sales  plus all paper order forms that are submitted will count for student and teacher prizes.  Go to this website:  http://www.qsp.com  and click on the orange tab. "Register Now" (or log-in).  Our School/Organization number is 425044481.  Many thanks to all of you who have been so generous with your support of the magazine sales drive.  And a very special thanks is extended to Mrs. Moria Cullins and her dedicated staff of library volunteers who worked so hard each day of the magazine sale to count sales totals and distribute the prizes.