TEXARKANA, Texas - Just in time for winter break, the Texarkana READvolutionary Pop-Up Library will put free books in the hands of kids.
Held from noon to 2 p.m. Monday at the Literacy Council of Bowie and Miller Counties, 4014 Summerhill Road, the event is organized by Taryn Givan, founder of Divergent Educational Consulting.
Givan received her inspiration when she read about READvolutionary's Kierra Robinson, who started the program in El Paso, Texas, with an aim to put multicultural books in the hands of both children and adults. The cause really spoke to her, so she reached out to the founder to discuss it and get it going here, too.
The project is centered around diversity and inclusion, in particular giving children an opportunity to receive multicultural books.
"And when we think about their personal libraries, a lot of students may not have a home library. They're used to either getting books from the schools and the library and having to turn that back in, or maybe when the book fair comes around some of them are able to get books that way," Givan said.
A pop-up library like this encourages students to have leisure reading - "and for them to be able to pick up a book that they're excited about, to choose that book," Givan said. As a former classroom teacher, she taught reading. She also served as a school principal in Texarkana.
"Literacy is very important to me," Givan said.
Books distributed at the READvolutionary Pop-Up Library will range from fiction to nonfiction geared toward readers both young and old. Back in September, the first local READvolutionary pop-up library was held at The Beverly Community Gardens.
Givan reached out to friends, pulled from her own library, started a wish list and posted information about how to donate. She's had people from outside Texarkana send book donations. She's bought local and online.
"When I did the event at The Beverly Community Gardens we were right at 200 books to be able to have students look through," Givan said, noting this event a come-and-go event.
Masks will be required to visit the pop-up library. Gloves will be available for attendees who want to use them while browsing.
Givan wants anyone who attends to walk away happy and excited about reading. "It really is just about the love of reading," she said. "Also, just about diversity, equity and inclusion."
She would like anyone who attends to have an opportunity to be a part of needed social change. "And recognizing that all people are important, all people are special, and that representation matters," Givan said.
It can make a difference even in someone's motivation to read to see characters that look like them, she said, whether it's an adult or child reader. When she was growing up in school, she remembers that books in libraries were not very representative of the school or community population.
"I think it really is about being intentional, and the conversations and a lot of the events that have happened around us are really causing people to be a little more cognizant and to be intentional about some of those practices," Givan said, noting with a replenishment of their books they have about 200 more ready for Monday's pop-up library.
"For us it is just about the gift of giving, especially during this holiday season," she said, noting she plans to have more pop-up library events in the future.
(For more information, or to learn about how to donate money or books for future READvolutionary pop-up library events, visit DivergentEducationalConsulting.com, email [email protected] or call 903-244-7715.)