To help put books in more people’s hands, Hortencia Del Bosque joined forces with Odessa High School to open the Little Family Library.
A Teen Parent Related Service homebound teacher, Del Bosque said this was an extension of the Early Literacy Jumpstart program that she started about three years ago with support from the Education Foundation. Early Literacy Jumpstart provides books to newborns, parents, their children and all the parents in TPRS.
She saw that there were usually other children in the family, so she wanted to be able to provide books for them as well.
Since then, Del Bosque has received book donations through Donors Choose and book drives at OHS and Permian High School, enough to stock and restock about two dozen little free libraries throughout ECISD and Odessa. This need for books for all ages was the inspiration for OHS’s Little Family Library.
OHS faculty and students jumped in to support the effort. The OHS National Honor Society conducted a campus-wide book drive that brought in more than 1,000 new and used books. With the opening of this Little Family Library, students and staff will be able to get books for themselves, a child at home, sibling or parent.
The OHS campus team includes Media Specialist Rebecca Tolbert, International Baccalaureate teacher and coordinator Melissa Roth, National Honor Society Sponsor, science teacher and department chair Rebecca Orcutt and graphic design teacher Michael Horton. Rico Rios is the signage artist and the mural artists are Juzlin Torrez, Angie Antillon and Allyah Havner, all of whom are International Baccalaureate students.
They also thanked Principal Anthony Garcia for his support.
“As you can see, it was a collective effort,” Del Bosque said.
Last year, Del Bosque said she was able to restock the Little Free Library outside of OHS five times within a matter of a month because of the NHS book drive.
“I feel like this is something we have to duplicate over and over. We actually opened up a little family library at NTO (New Tech) … I’m so, so proud of all the work that was done here,” Del Bosque said.
Orcutt said they have started a little family library at Hays STEAM Academy as well.
Most of the books from the National Honor Society book drive were used, but Del Bosque thinks it’s important to insert some new books.
“Our grand opening started with just new books through the help of a Donors Choose grant that I wrote. … The National Honor Society also did a fundraiser to pay for the paint for the mural, to purchase the frames for the posters” with literacy tips, Del Bosque said.
There are multiple posters behind the posters so they can be changed out periodically.
“One of the things that I feel is quite unique about this little family library is not only is this accessible to all students to pick up a book for themselves and their family members, but on Fridays, we invite our staff to help themselves to a book. I remember when I taught here, I had no extra time to go to the store and pick out books for my grandchildren and how nice (it is) to just be able to go downstairs or across the building … and actually get a book for your child, grandchild, yourself, or your spouse. I’m really proud that we’ve opened it up to the staff as well,” Del Bosque said.
Guidelines are included in a poster and each book is stamped with OHS little family library that says you can return the book, or exchange it, but they can also keep it.
“The kids kind of see it as a book exchange where they bring something that they’re done with and then take one that they want to read and they don’t feel the pressure to finish it right away because it’s not a traditional library with a due date, so they know they can read it on their own pace,” Orcutt said.
Campuses have Bookworms Vending Machines which vend books to students who earn them, but the Little Family Library does not limit students from getting books for themselves, Del Bosque said.
Del Bosque, a former OHS English teacher and Odessa College Board of Trustees member, said the library has gotten quite a bit of use since it opened in February.
“I’ve actually had to come and restock it myself two or three times. Like I said, I’m not even here so I just come and visit and check on the progress,” she added.
Created with primer and acrylic, Torrez and Antillon said they planned to complete the mural in a month. It includes a tree and two red Bronchos along with a pastoral background and books.
Del Bosque gave the girls ideas she wanted including a tree and books.
Roth said it was a labor of love.
“It was a wonderful experience to watch the piece evolve. … They each had a vision … They had their inspiration, but then it was all freehand,” Roth said.
Del Bosque agreed and added that the mural will be here for years and generations to come.
“I’m sure that makes y’all feel really happy that you’ve added something to the campus that’s going to be here for a long time,” she added.
