The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee wants to collect 300 books for two Milwaukee Public Schools, and you can help.
As part of inauguration week for its new chancellor, Thomas Gibson, UWM is hosting a book drive through Sept. 25. The books are being collected for K-8 students at Lloyd Barbee Montessori School, 4456 N. Teutonia Ave., and Hartford Avenue University School, 2227 E. Hartford Ave.
Laurie Marks, executive director of the UWM Center for Student Experience and Talent, said they chose the two schools because of their existing partnerships.
“We, as an institution, a couple times a year go to Lloyd Barbee and do volunteer work,” Marks said. “Hartford Avenue School … it’s right on the corner of Hartford and Maryland, which is in the heart of our campus, so they’re an obvious choice for things like this.”
The university is partnering with Boswell Book Company, 2559 N. Downer Ave., and Wonderland Bookshop, 4001 N. Downer Ave., to collect new books.
What to donate
Boswell Book Company and Wonderland Bookshop both created lists with recommended age-appropriate books for children in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Marks said the bookstores based these selections on wish lists from the schools and teachers, and on what titles are currently popular for kids.
Boswell Book Company bookseller Jenny Chou, who is working with the MPS book drive, said they are only accepting new books.
Chou said Boswell Book Company customers can get 20% off any books they purchase for the book drive.
Educators interested in contributing can get 10% off their purchase at Wonderland Bookshop when donating to the drive.
Marks said she hopes the initiative brings more business to the small bookstores UWM partnered with.
The schools decide
Marks said UWM wants to put control of where the books go into the schools’ hands.
Books may stay in the library, be given out as gifts or sent home with children, depending on each classroom’s needs. Some will go to individual classrooms based on teacher needs, Marks said.
Where, when and how to donate
Bring your book donations to Boswell Book Company or Wonderland Bookshop through Sept. 25.
Bring your child to Wonderland Bookshop to find a book to donate, and color a bookmark for the child receiving the book at the shop’s coloring station.
Both bookstores also have online storefronts where you can donate books directly to the drive without leaving your house.
If shopping online at Boswell, include the term “UWM BOOK DRIVE” in the comment box at checkout. Your discount will be processed after you submit your order and the initial charge will be replaced with the discounted amount.
Wonderland Bookshop has an online registry where your purchase is automatically connected to the book drive, no code or comment needed.
You can also drop off your donation at the UWM Center for Student Experience and Talent Union Office, 3253 N. Downer Ave., Room E153. The office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.
Alex Klaus is the education solutions reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.
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