Book giveaway program blossoms

By Phyllis Lehrer
Staff Writer

Published on May 23, 2008

Donating a bag of books mushroomed to 2 million in seven years and gave birth to Reader to Reader, a nonprofit that sends words around the world.

David Mazor started the organization in 2001, and he'll be recognized with a Dakin award for his human service at the annual Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce dinner June 5 at 5:30 p.m. at the Robert Crown Center at Hampshire College. At the dinner the Millicent Kauffman Award will be presented posthumously to Edward Markert. Other Dakin awards will be presented to state Rep. Ellen Story for government, Promoting Downtown Amherst Committee for community and J.F. Conlin and Associates for business. The dinner is open to the public, but there is a fee; call the chamber at 253-0700 for reservations.

Mazor provided a tour of the basement at Amherst College's Cadigan Center, which is filled with boxes of fiction and nonfiction awaiting sorting, or already categorized, among young readers, high school, college and adults, as well as books on tape and large print volumes.

He explained that Reader to Reader began with a gesture, donating some books to the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where his daughter was a student.

"I collected so many here it made me see what a tremendous resource we have here, yet not too far away there is not the same access to material," said Mazor, who lives in Amherst with his wife, Kathleen. The couple has two daughters.

He went online to search the poorest city in the poorest state. He called the Durant, Miss., high school, and asked, "Do you need books?" The response: the library's newest books dated to pre-1969. After he shipped some boxes, he received calls from Durant's neighboring towns. Soon his garage was filled with books and the postage bill was maxing-out his credit card.

And maybe it was time for a career change. After a degree in philosophy and multimedia from Evergreen State College, Mazor worked in the film distribution business for 20 years.

"I love this," he said of working with books and schools. "Reading is the foundation of everything we do. It's where it all starts."

He said he didn't learn to read until the second grade, "But I had a mother who read to me. It's really important; it gets you excited about books before you can read them."

His received his first library card when, "I was a little kid. I took the city bus to the central library. I was in third or fourth grade; it seemed an adventure. I loved to go to the library. You could wander around and find all the magical books."

He founded a nonprofit to pay for postage and was invited to use the Cadigan Center, an ideal home, in 2002. He praises Amherst College and its students for their support.

Reader to Reader was the first literacy organization to respond to Hurricane Katrina. "We worked with the State Department of Education, but it was easier to collect books than to get them there, since there was no storage space. However, one million books were shipped courtesy of Beacon Van Lines over two years. During the drive, more books were collected than were shipped. The reason: "Some were too antiquated. The heart of why Reader to Reader works so well because each box is like opening up a treasure chest, so every book is in great shape, useful and relevant."

Besides school libraries, books are shipped to community libraries as well. A total of 40 to 50 boxes are sent each week. Mazor said 15,000 new children's books donated by Farrar, Strauss and Giroux were distributed to Chicopee, Holyoke and Springfield students. Books have also been donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County and Family Outreach of Amherst.

Reader to Reader launched a reading mentor program with college students here and those at a Navajo reservation who read the same books and communicate on line.

"They instantly discuss and have someone to interact with. So from a more solitary experience it becomes a collaborative activity and energizes the students."

The Amherst students and a professor will travel to New Mexico this summer to discuss books and college opportunities. The Navajo students will visit Amherst in October to sit in on classes, meet authors and "learn of a world they haven't been exposed to."

Another mentor program will be held with Boston and Chicopee students thanks to a grant. A the state of Alabama and Hartford, Conn., are interested in the program.

"We have found that the mentoring program boosts the interest of kids in reading," he said.

Reader to Reader has a budget of $150,000, funded by donations and grants, two paid staff, community volunteers and work study students. With the postage increase, more money will be needed. Donations can be sent to: Reader to Read, Cadigan Center, 38 Woodside Ave., Amherst, MA 01002 or visit readertoreader.org.