Earlier this year, I was made aware by an old friend of a need for books in St. John. Since then, I was given hundreds, if not thousands of books to send. I have been sending these books via media mail with trying to get under $1 per pound of each box of books we send. However, I am not even close to being halfway through sending these books and the cost is adding up. Any support is GREATLY appreciated as it is my goal to make sure the islands have these books. Time with a book is unmatched. Adults and children alike deserve to discover what books have to offer. Below is the full story from my friend in St. John starting an incredible chain reaction of bringing books to the island:

"I started a book exchange @ The Westin St. John because our library is closed here. Apparently the library has been closed since it was destroyed in the hurricanes, Irma and Maria in 2017. I understand it has been renovated but is not reopening? I recently learned that there are no open libraries throughout the USVI?! ( St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix) I am astounded! This is the United States Virgin Islands. I know the people here are truly appalled. The elementary school here has not been rebuilt, they are still in trailers. Even the Fire department building is condemned.

Starting the book exchange here has developed into a much larger project. We do not have a bookstore on St. John. We have a thrift store and recycling center. The store is too small to house books. They are generously donating any books received for this effort. Unfortunately, a large percentage of these books have been waterlogged, or have been in an open air space resulting in further damage, mold or termite damage. I have restored and repaired as many as I can.

The Westin is a timeshare resort that was also destroyed in Hurricanes Irma and Maria, both Category 5. The Westin was closed for 18 months. I asked about a book exchange when we moved here after I learned about the library. They had 8 books.

The books are available for anyone. There are 250 associates who work at the Westin. Most of them live on St. Thomas and have families. I have discovered four free libraries and have stocked all of them with books. Some were completely empty. The associates, locals and Westin guests are thrilled with our new exchange! I am also contacting the schools here to see what their needs might be.

I have found a few quotes that have inspired me. " Libraries store the energy that fuels the imagination. They open up the windows of the world and inspire us to explore and achieve, and contribute to improving our quality of life" Sidney Sheldon. "Cutting libraries during a recession is like cutting hospitals during a plague" Eleanor Crumblehulme " I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library" Jorge Luis Borges "A library is not a luxury but one of the necessities of life." Henry Ward Beecher

My daughter, Nicole, takes her toddler children to her local library weekly. There they attend story time, play interactive games, sing songs and have fun! She's bringing books home weekly reading to her children. I wish the locals here had that option.

I truly appreciate all you have done and cannot thank you enough!

Gratefully yours, Jeannie"

Thank you for any support of this worthwhile endeavor!