James Patterson is a household name thanks to the incredible stories he tells. And now, he's helping to save school libraries.
Today, James has announced that he will donate $1.25 million to school libraries this year in the first-ever partnership of its kind! He's partnering with Scholastic Reading Club, and we'll be matching each dollar with Reading Club “Bonus Points,” which teachers can use to acquire books and other materials for their classrooms, at every school that receives an award. School libraries can be nominated for a donation here: www.scholastic.com/pattersonpartnership.
We are so thrilled to be working on this partnership with James, and equally thrilled that he took the time to answer some questions for us:
Q: What makes school libraries so important for kids?
James Patterson: We have to make sure that they are important. That means that kids need to feel that there’s something in it for them. It’s useful if the libraries are exciting visually. Kids need to understand that a library is more than just a bunch of spines. It can take them around the world, introduce them to different kinds of people and provide great adventures.
Q: Is there a favorite memory you can share about your own school library growing up?
JP: The idea of a treat was a little different when I was a kid. For me, a treat was when my mother brought my sister and me to the library on Saturday.
Q: If you could say one thing to the school librarians of the world, what would it be?
JP: Anytime it gets hard for you, just remember that what you do actually saves lives.
Q: You write a ton! Do you have time to read for pleasure and if so, what sorts of books do you read?
JP: I read a lot of non-fiction, some fiction, and poetry. I’m an obsessive reader.
Q: What's on your mind?
JP: I think my number one passion right now is getting as many kids reading as I possibly can. I keep hoping that parents will step up and understand that it’s their job to get their kids reading.
Read more about this incredible program here. Thanks, James!
