Bobbie Palmer knows if she can just get the students at Holloway High to visit the school library, she will be able to inspire them to read for pleasure.
One of those students was Kaia Dabney.
She was a junior when she started to develop a passion for reading and this spring, as a senior, Dabney was at home when she emailed Palmer, a media specialist at Holloway, asking if there was any way she could check out a new library book.
The short answer was yes.
The longer answer became the inspiration behind Palmer's idea of offering Holloway students, including graduating students, the opportunity to check out and return books throughout the summer from what she describes as a mobile library.
"We have a pretty small student population," Palmer explained. "They will email me with their requests. They can look up the books on Destiny — the card catalog — and then email me their request and let me know if they want to have me deliver it to their doorstep or if they want me to meet them at school.
"And then when they're through with the book, the same thing, they'll send me an email and I'll come pick it up and drop off new books. If they need recommendations, they'll let me know that as well and I'll make recommendations. I'm also planning on keeping a box of books in my car just in case."
Palmer has begun letting the students know about the service.
Once she sees the response, Palmer will develop a weekly schedule that includes days and times when she will be available to drop off and pick up books. She will gladly increase those hours if the demand necessitates her to do so.
"I have some long-term plans and goals," said Palmer, "but right now I just really want to get the word out there."
Palmer added, "We're all about relationships here at Holloway. Relationships are very important. Our kids come from all walks of society and from all over the county and a lot of them need to know there's somebody there they can reach out to whether it's to get a book or just to say, 'Hey, how are you?'"
Holloway High is a non-zoned school of choice with block scheduling to provide accelerated learning. With an average enrollment of about 150 students, Holloway offers a one-on-one experience not available at larger traditional schools.
The administration is currently accepting applications for the 2020–2021 school year.
"This is just another way for outreach," said Palmer, of her idea to offer a personalized version of a mobile library. "Mrs. Drayton, as soon as I proposed the idea to her, she was all for it. She didn't hesitate.
"She's like, 'Oh yeah, that's a good idea.'"
PHOTO / KEITH RYAN CARTWRIGHT
Bobbie Palmer, a media specialist at Holloway High, collects books and prepares for the new mobile book delivery she is offering students throughout the summer break.
