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- http://www.ourglobaleducation.com/2009/10/charlie-hoar-library-hero.html
Charlie Hoar - Library Hero
Kudos to Mr. Hoar - at least someone recognizes the value of books and libraries. From the Oregonian
Sherwood retiree donates books to high school
By Ellen Gilmer, The Oregonian
October 20, 2009, 5:00PM
Seven years ago, Charlie Hoar saw a need in Sherwood schools and took it upon himself to meet it. Almost every week, Hoar visits the high school with a new book in hand and donates it to the school library.
Hoar, 84, is a retired mechanical engineer who lives alone in Sherwood. He's a member of the city's Rotary Club and met Michelle DeBoard, Sherwood High School principal, through the group.
In conversations with DeBoard and other school officials, Hoar picked up that the library couldn't quite afford all the materials it wanted. So, Hoar started bringing brochures into the school for books he thought the library staff might find interesting. Then he would order the books, flip through them on his own and donate them to the schools.
"The schools don't have a large budget for libraries, so the best way to get that fixed is to give the kids an extra source," he said.
DeBoard said she is thrilled every time he brings something in.
"He doesn't expect anything at all from it," she said. "He just wants to give the kids another opportunity."
Some of his donations include National Geographic and Time Life books about history, science and photography, which DeBoard said have increased the library's resource book collection.
"The photography in those books is amazing," she said. "That's a real enhancement."
Hoar is not looking for credit, though. Donating books is his simple way of helping his community, he said.
"The kids get a big kick out of it," he said. "And the teachers have extra stuff that they wouldn't have the opportunity to see. They're using them on a regular basis."
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