News Dell Children's Medical Center Receives Truckloads of Books from Barnes & Noble Booksellers

Community-minded teenager made book drive possible

AUSTIN, Texas - (Jan. 10, 2012) - Dell Children's Medical Center of Central Texas received a big holiday surprise from Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Austin-thousands of books for patients and families. The books, collected during the Barnes & Noble Holiday Book Drive held in December, will benefit the Dell Children's Family Resource Center and Half Pint Library.

The donation would not have been possible without the assistance of community-minded teenager Shelby Romero, who came up with the book drive idea. During a tour of Dell Children's, Shelby learned about the many different programs and services offered to help children and parents cope with hospitalization-including the Half-Pint Library.

"With so many patients, how could Dell Children's possibly maintain a large enough library?" said Shelby. "I thought I'd try reaching out to the biggest book store in town, Barnes & Noble, about a book drive. I had no idea they would be so willing to help and involve all six area stores".

The library offers a wide range of literature and DVDs for patients and their family members. Materials are used as reference and teaching methods as well as a fun distraction. While the library is open every day, Dell Children's volunteers also deliver books to patients throughout the hospital.

"Thanks to Shelby, this is the largest donation of books Dell Children's has ever received," said Darlene Ennis, Dell Children's library service manager. "Books are a special treat for the children in the hospital and we deliver hundreds each week. Donations like these are so important for keeping the Half-Pint Library stocked with new and exciting books."

Every child at Dell Children's has the option to take home up to two books, which results in thousands of books being given away. The Center relies 100 percent on community donations for replenishing its resources.

"We are very excited and proud to have collected a record amount of books for our Holiday Book Drive recipient, Dell Children's Medical Center," remarked Charley Carroll, community relations manager of Barnes & Noble Booksellers. "With the help of Shelby and the volunteers she coordinated, Barnes & Noble collected more than 8,000 books at our six Austin locations to stock the shelves of the Half-Pint Library."