Leave Your Mark—BookMark!

BookMark is a new initiative designed to place new or gently used books in the hands of elementary children in our district.  Studies show that children lose up to three months of what they learned the previous year over the summer, and reading levels decrease up to 25 percent.  Research also has demonstrated that this can be avoided simply by having children read four books over the summer. DPS wants to give books to children who may not have books in the home or easy access to the Public Library. Purchase Books Regulator Bookshop on Ninth Street in Durham is offering 20 percent off to customers who buy books for DPS students through the BookMark project.  You can purchase online at www.RegulatorBookshop.com or through the Durham Public Schools Wishlist at www.Amazon.com.  Simply log on to the Regulator or Amazon Websites and view the books we have chosen for our students, pick out a few titles, and then have them shipped to the address given.  DPS will facilitate giving these books to students who need them. Click on the stores below to purchase your books online: Click here for Regulator Click here for Amazon Donate Books If you purchase books at other stores or want to donate gently used books, DPS is accepting new or gently used children's books at: any high school media center DPS Staff Development Center, 2107 Hillandale Road Fuller Building, 511 Cleveland Street Urban Durham Realty, 401A Foster Street

Volunteer Forms

For individuals and groups running BookMark campaigns, we would appreciate it if you completed a Tier 2 volunteer form for our records.

• Volunteer Form

BookMark Project - FAQ

Q. What is the goal of the Leave Your Mark…BookMark Project?
A. The goal is to place books into the hands of DPS elementary students for them to enjoy at home, particularly during the summer when students may not have easy access to reading materials.  Research shows that during the summer, students can lose three months of education.  It also shows that this can be completely avoided just by reading four books over the summer.  DPS also encourages students to take advantage of the resources of the Durham County Public Library.

Q. How can I contribute a book to this project?
A. There are several easy ways: 

• Purchase books online through www.RegulatorBookshop.com or through www.Amazon.com (Durham Public Schools BookMark Wishlist). 
• Purchase books through another source and drop off at the DPS Staff Development Center at 2107 Hillandale Road, Fuller Building at 511 Cleveland Street in downtown Durham or any high school media center.
• Donate gently used books.
• Contribute checks (made payable to DPS BookMark Project), and books will be purchased for students (mail to BookMark Project, DPS Public Affairs, 511 Cleveland St,, Durham, NC 27701).

Q. Do you accept only new books?
A. New or “gently used” books may be contributed.  We do not take magazines, textbooks, activity books or books printed before 1990.  Gently used books should be free of writing and rips. 

Q. To whom will the books be distributed and how will that happen? 
A. Depending on the number of books received, DPS will distribute books to schools with the highest low-income student populations.  The first books will go to students in schools with 75% or more students on Free & Reduced Meals. Those schools are: Spaulding, Eastway, Smith, Merrick-Moore, Glenn, Burton, Bethesda, Fayetteville Street, and Lakewood.  School media coordinators will oversee the distribution of books. 

Q. How will children know who contributed their book?
A. Bookplates will designate the name of the person who contributed the book so please include your name with the book(s) you contribute.

Q. How can school groups help collect books?
A. One of the original ideas of the project was for high school seniors to leave their literacy legacy by contributing a book to younger children so student support is welcomed.  Student groups can collect new or gently used books and take them to one of the above locations, and the books will then be distributed to students who need them.

Q. Who do I contact for additional information about this project?
A. In high schools, contact the media coordinator.  You may also contact Mary Gray Leonard, Director of Media Services, at 560-3704, marygray.leonard@dpsnc.net, or Kay Williams, DPS Public Affairs, at 560-9112 or kay.williams@dpsnc.net.