What is the purpose of the Book Nook Student Reading Room?

o To provide students access to English reading materials

o To provide leadership training for future teachers (a chosen group of student leaders will be in charge of the room)

o To provide a fun and comfortable environment where students can come and practice their English and borrow English reading materials

o To give Longnan Teachers’ College a special resource which will continue even after the foreign teachers have left

Thanks to a generous gift from Concordia Lutheran Church in Fertile, MN, (Rachel’s church), we have been able to purchase a good number of books. However, this is only the beginning! We envision a well-stocked, cozy, welcoming place where students can come, relax, read magazines and newspapers, and practice their English. They will also be able to borrow books, just like a library.

In order to make this room a success, and in order for it to be as beneficial as possible for the students, we hope that people “back home” in the US will help us.

Since acquiring English books and magazines here in Gansu, China, is impossible, we are hoping that people will send us:

Especially books for young adults, but also other books, would be greatly appreciated! For example, English books like the Babysitter’s Club; Nancy Drew; Hardy Boys; books by Roald Dahl or Astrid Lindgren; fairy tales; books about travel, culture, or places, including coffee table books; simple poetry; also modern novels, etc. Multiple copies are also good; don’t worry about other people sending the same books.

Tip: The books can be sent from the US using an inexpensive M-Bag rate. Find out at your local post office.

We would be happy for used or new English language magazines for the room. The students will be able to read these in-house. Even better would be to order a gift subscription to a magazine. Some suggestions include:

Family Circle, Reader’s Digest, National Geographic, Sports magazines, Travel magazines, history magazines, People, and any home or fashion magazines.

If you have any questions, ideas or need the mailing address, please contact me at shellinchina@yahoo.com. I will, of course, be happy to help!

Thanks for your interest and support! All contributions are appreciated, large or small.