PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (WPVI) — Philadelphia students created the ‘DreamEscape Library’ inside their school to provide a sanctuary to read, write, and dream of their future.<\/p>\n
The idea came about in the 2023-2024 school year when students and staff set their sights on vying for the Philly Service Award.<\/p>\n
The students decided to tackle the issue of literacy.<\/p>\n
Not only did their school lack a library, but Philadelphia schools at large have been facing a shortage of “full-time certified librarians.”<\/a> According to various sources, such as this report by WHYY,<\/a> there are only a small handful of librarians left in the district.<\/p>\n The students started the library with some hard work, dedication, and a seed grant.<\/p>\n Then, they won first place in the Philly Service Award’s ‘Young Entrepreneurs’ category for 2024, netting them $20,000 to turn this dream into a reality.<\/p>\n In the ‘DreamEscape Library,’ student government members facilitate the rental and return of books while also stocking shelves and maintaining a website.<\/p>\n They hope for it to grow into a space where students can dream and escape into the pages of a book.<\/p>\n To learn more, watch the video above and visit their website.<\/a><\/p>\n