Every kid needs a couple of good books when they head back to school.
The children in an east-end neighbourhood will soon have 1,500 of them.
The Larry Paikin Literacy Express — an antique rail car retrofitted into a literacy centre — will soon be filled with books thanks to the work of Don MacVicar, Horst Streiter and the folks from Random House of Canada.
The publisher has donated the books to help fill the 1954 CN passenger car, which was turned into the city's newest library in July.
The reading centre has not been funded by taxpayers' money and all the books available so far have come in by donation, said MacVicar, who founded the Eva Rothwell Resource Centre to help residents in one of the city's most economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
"It's astounding to have one of the biggest publishers track you down and say 'we want to help you out,'" said MacVicar. "We are trying to build an inventory and this helps so much."
He gave the credit to volunteer Horst Streiter, who got in touch with someone he knew at Random House.
MacVicar was thrilled when he got an email from the publisher to say 1,500 books would soon be on their way. He hopes they will be delivered next week.
He said the idea behind the library on wheels was to create an "attraction" that would get children excited about learning. He said he's still looking for additional sponsors to help sustain the centre as its annual operating costs are expected to run about $20,000 to $30,000.
The rail car, which is operated at the Eva Rothwell centre as part of the Robert Land Community Association, has been renovated to make it a comfortable place to sit and browse a book. The old seats have been removed and it will have air conditioning and heating. It just needs a few final touches of electrical work, plumbing and landscaping before it's officially opened.
from: TheSpec
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