Murkowski’s 10,000th Book Donation Honors Longtime Anchorage Librarian
Senator Continues Book Drive to Inspire Learning in Alaskan
Senator Lisa Murkowski is proud to announce that she has now donated over 10,000 books to Alaskan schools, libraries, tribes and other non-profit agencies through a partnership with the Library of Congress. The program donates excess unused books nationwide to non-profit entities, and Murkowski has leveraged it to deliver books statewide – including to replace books stolen or damaged in Togiak in 2011.
Aesop’s Fables was the 10,000th book and part of a larger donation to Chester Valley Elementary School in honor of the late Beverley Fonnesbeck, one of the Anchorage School District’s first librarians. Of the most recent batch of donations, 142 books were sent to Chester Valley Elementary School in Anchorage, 28 to Denali Elementary School in Fairbanks, and 33 to Colony High School in Palmer.
Commemorating this impressive milestone, Senator Murkowski said:
“It is very fitting that Aesop’s Fables, a timeless collection of stories that originated almost 3,000 years ago, was the milestone book in this donation. The value of education, literacy and living a good life are also timeless beliefs that never lose relevance – and they were the virtues that Beverley Fonnesbeck devoted her life to passing along to young Alaskans. It is clear that reading is such an important aspect in all stages of life, and I am excited to see how many more books can be donated as part of such a wonderful program.”
