Book Swap Brings People And Books Together

WCU junior, Chloe Koz, with a book called "How To Save A Library" that she created for the Book Swap.

Thanks to a hard-working Western Carolina University student and her desire to do something for her new community, the recent Book Swap held at the Jackson County Public Library Complex in Sylva was born.

Chloe Koz, a junior from Charlotte majoring in International Studies and English, was looking for ways to make connections through volunteer opportunities when she heard about what was happening with the county libraries and the Jackson County commissioners' plan to separate them from the Fontana Regional Library after many years.

"The library being potentially subject to losing a primary resource provider moved me to thought," she said. She wanted to do something to help, so she connected with the JCPL Allies, and "that's when the idea for a book swap was created."

Chloe, along with her parents, John and Heather, and approximately 15 volunteers from WCU (who helped with planning, organization, and staffing the event), worked with JCPL Allies members, Kim Mason and Antoinette MacWatt, to design an event that would encourage people to visit the library who might not have done so otherwise and to learn about the threat to the libraries in the process. People were asked to bring up to three books to exchange for books brought by other attendees. There was also a number of books donated to the event for people who didn't have books to exchange. People were encouraged to take home new books whether they had books to share or not.

"There was a lot of animated discussion about the books, and people seemed really happy to select their next reads from the collection," said Antoinette. "This was a great way to share information about our libraries with the community."

By the end of the two-hour event, more than a hundred books had exchanged hands.

In addition to the book exchange, there were stations for people to create posters supporting the libraries, write letters to the commissioners, and film their thoughts about what libraries mean to them.

"It was a wonderful turnout," said Kim. "Chloe's hard work on this event really paid off. We were able to answer a lot of questions about what has been going on with the libraries, and we really appreciate all of the volunteers who made this possible."

Chloe's purpose in offering the event started as a way to get to know the community and quickly became a way to support the work of the JCPL Allies in communicating how important libraries are to this community and all communities everywhere.

"When a community is equipped to equitably provide resources to its residents, everyone benefits," said Chloe. "Anyone can do what I did and more. It only took a want for change and a few books."

The JCPL Allies deeply appreciate the efforts of Chloe Koz and her fellow volunteers for providing a meaningful event for our community and our libraries.