Braude’s Office Collecting Used Books for Children

Residents of Marvin Braude’s City Council district, which includes southern parts of the Valley, will be among the first in the city to contribute to a used children’s-book drive.

The Right to Read program was initiated by Los Angeles Police Officer Heather Wade, who approached all council offices for help. Braude’s was the first to set up collection sites, including one at the councilman’s field office in Encino.

Due to Braude’s planned retirement at the end of June, books will be accepted in his offices only until June 20. But Wade, an officer in the LAPD’s tactical planning section downtown, hopes to continue the citywide program indefinitely.

Her former job patrolling in the Rampart Division--one of the city’s most crime-ridden--and raising her 6-year-old boy gave Wade the idea for the program.

“When I would bring books home to my son, I saw his interest in them,” she said. “I would buy used books because even on my salary, I can’t necessarily afford to always buy new books. But the amazing thing is that kids don’t care if a book is new or used.”

Last fall, Wade started putting the idea together. Right to Read has collected about 3,000 books so far, many of them donations from private schools.

In the coming months, Wade plans book fairs at the 10 county public schools whose students scored worst on the reading and writing portions of proficiency tests. Each child will be able to take home two books for free.

Braude’s Encino office at 17547 Ventura Blvd., Suite 202, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

While the program emphasizes books for early elementary schoolchildren, donations of young-adult books also will be accepted.