Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Chad Klassen

BRIGHT RED BOOKSHELF

Literacy in Kamloops still in desperate need of space for books, faces uncertain future

Sep 16, 2019 | 5:07 PM

KAMLOOPS — In the 11 days since Parkcrest Elementary school burned down, the wheels have been in motion to re-locate the students directly affected by the fire.

Many other programs that have made space for Parkcrest students have settled into their own new home.

However, some like Literacy in Kamloops (LinK) are still in search with time running out. Literacy outreach co-ordinator Fiona Clare says without new space soon, the Bright Red Bookshelf program will be forced to fold.

“Unfortunately, the future of this program is actually really in jeopardy,” she said. “If we don’t get somewhere to keep our books, to keep our bookshelves stocked, then we can’t have the program.”

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There is a stack of 100 boxes, full of books, being temporarily stored on the stage at the new Parkcrest Elementary school. Clare estimates up to 5,000 books are at the school but in need of a new home.

“Literacy in Kamloops is just a community group and we don’t have a physical space anywhere, so we are depending on the community, a community partner, to come forward,” said Clare.

The books are good where they are for now. But soon, Parkcrest staff will need the space.

The stage area at the new Parkcrest is actually being used as a library. The school library is being taken up by kindergarten classes. The school is waiting on portables, and once those portables come, these books can then be transferred to the real library.

Fiona Clare (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

In the meantime, the LinK books being stored here in the back need to be moved as soon as possible.

Some of the books are already stored at the newly-refurbished Westsyde Elementary. Clare has also reached out to staff at the old Pineridge Elementary in Sahali, but the district is still weighing out options to accommodate LinK.

Clare says she is willing to accept any space available at this point, but the program fits ideally in a school setting.

“Because we have a number of our bookshelves in the schools, and the way we get the books to those schools is through the school delivery system,” noted Clare. The program, which has been running for a decade, is no longer accepting any more book donations until the storage dilemma is sorted out.