Access Services Coordinator Peter Huang with a bounty of books at the Levy Library.
After watching repeated news reports about devastating hurricanes this summer, Gali Halevi, PhD, MLS, Chief Director, Mount Sinai Health System Libraries, felt compelled to help in some way. So in September, she began collaborating with Robin O’Hanlon, MIS, Assistant Library Director for The Gustave L. and Janet W. Levy Library, to organize a book drive for elementary school libraries damaged by hurricanes.
In just two weeks, hundreds of books were donated at four drop-offs throughout the Health System. The drive was scheduled to run for one month, but it was suspended early because it was such a success there was not enough room to store the books. Three schools in Texas will benefit, and the organizers are also seeking to send books to Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. “Currently there is limited infrastructure in Puerto Rico,” Ms. O’Hanlon says. “Our hope is that once the rebuilding begins, we will be able to connect with other libraries and nonprofit organizations.”