D.R.Y. (Donated Reading for Youth) Libraries is a joint effort between National Book Store and A Hole in the Roof Foundation to rebuild or refurbish and restock school libraries in the areas hardest hit by super typhoon Haiyan (locally named Yolanda). Five two-dome libraries completed or under construction are located in Pawing Elementary School (Palo, Leyte), National Agricultural School (Leyte), Palanog Elementary School (Leyte), Valencia Elementary School (Ormoc, Leyte) and San Jose Elementary School (Ormoc, Leyte).

A Hole in the Roof Foundation founder Mitch Albom looks forward to visiting the new libraries on his next visit to the Tacloban area. Stay tuned for more updates!

In November 2013, a super typhoon flattened areas of the country, killing more than 6,000 people and displacing thousands more. When author Mitch Albom visited the island nation three months later, touring schools where he saw tents and plywood serving as makeshift walls, he pledged to build 10 libraries in one of the hardest hit regions ravaged by the storm and stock them with books.

A drive was launched that day: “Donated Reading for Youth of the Philippines’’ – also known as DRY Libraries.

On Friday morning, in a ceremony that included schoolchildren, top Filipino educators and representatives from the National Book Store Foundation – Albom’s Philippine partner in the project – the first of 10 libraries was officially christened at Pawing Elementary School in Palo, Leyte.

It is the first library ever at the school.

Among the Filipino dignitaries at the opening were: Charlie Ayco, Department of Education; Mario Deriquito, Undersecretary; Loreta Guilariza, Pawing Principal; Maureen Alexandre Ramos-Padilla, National Book Store Foundation President; and Ronelo Firmo, Schools Division Superintendent (Leyte).

L-R: Charlie Ayco, Department of Education Undersecretary Mario Deriquito, Principal Loreta Guilariza, President Xandra Ramos-Padilla, Department of Education Ronelo Firmo

“I’m so happy that the dream that we had of helping the people of Tacloban has finally come to fruition,” Albom said. “We came up to the idea of DRY Libraries in the aftermath of the horrible destruction of Yolanda when it was difficult dream about anything. The area was so destroyed that it was almost impossible to dream of a new building going up. And yet when I look at these pictures and I see the murals – and I see the love and care in which the buildings were designed in — it just proves that hope that never dies and people coming together can overcome any obstacle.”

The new library at Pawing is state of the art – the first monolithic dome library in the country – and built to withstand a strong storm. From a distance, the dual dome structure appears to rise from the earth like a pair of matching full moons.

The library took six months to build, but Bea Andrea Torres, National Book Store Foundation program manager, believes the rest will take far less time to complete.

The inside of the library is decorated with phrases from Albom’s books and colorful murals. One panel boasts: “Read More. Know More. Achieve More.”

Albom helped coordinate the DRY Libraries program through his A Hole in the Roof Foundation, which is involved in rebuilding for the homeless after disasters and has been operating an orphanage in Haiti since the 2010 devastating earthquake.

Albom launched the Filipino drive with an initial $10,000 donation and a pledge to help raise $160,000 needed for construction. He also donated hundreds of copies of his books, and has received support from dozens of other popular writers including Stephen King, John Green and JK Rowing.

The NBS Foundation has promised to match funds raised by Albom on a dollar-for-dollar basis until the goal is met. Fundraising efforts will continue until all 10 libraries are built, Albom said this week. The target date for completion is March 2016.

“This is step one of 10 steps that we’re going to take with these libraries and I can’t wait stocking the shelves with books from my friends in the literary community and Filipino authors as well,” Albom said. “And I will keep my promise of being in the Philippines for the opening of the 10^th library when we reach our goal, which I know we’re going to do.”

Since the groundbreaking at Pawing last November, Albom was kept updated on the construction progress through photos and videos sent by NBS Foundation.

“The murals have been so impressive,” he said. “I’ve gotten emailed pictures of those and I’m very honored and humbled and flattered that (the foundation) would choose to use words from some of my books to be on the walls.

“But what I’m most proud of is should Mother Nature decide to rear her head at a future date, the design of these monolithic domes is built to withstand that, and we don’t ever have to worry about losing the chance of kids being able to read just because of a storm.

“I wish I could be there in person, but I feel like I am in seeing all these photos and video. And I can’t wait to return to the Philippines and visit these libraries myself.”

View coverage of the momentous event from the Philippines Star (pdf here),  the Philippines Inquirer (pdf here), and the Manila Bulletin (pdf here).

Click a photo to view the gallery.

Engages dozens of famous writers – including Stephen King, Amy Tan, Jeff Kinney, JK Rowling, John Grisham, Nicholas Sparks, John Green & more –

 ALBOM will start with $10,000 donation

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 – Author Mitch Albom visited the ravaged Tacloban region of the Philippines Monday to announce a relief effort aimed at students affected by super typhoon Yolanda last November.

“I am blessed to have many Filipino readers, including many students, and I wanted to do something to help,” Albom said, during a visit to the Pawing Elementary School, one of scores of schools reduced to makeshift classes after the typhoon devastated their infrastructure.

Albom revealed he was establishing the Donated Reading for Youth of the Philippines (D.R.Y. LIBRARIES) to reconstruct 10 school libraries destroyed by Yolanda and stock them with books.

Albom pledged to help raise $160,000 needed for construction, partnering with The National Book Store Foundation here in the Philippines to get it done quickly. He said he would start with a $10,000 donation of his own. The NBS Foundation has said it will match funds raised by Albom on a dollar for dollar basis until the goal is met.

In addition Albom pledged hundreds of copies of his own books to start filling the shelves, and then made a surprise announcement.

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve been emailing writers I know back home – and some I don’t know – to ask if they would help, seeing as many of them are popular here, particularly with high school students.”

Albom was able to secure pledges of at least 10 personalized books, one for each library, from dozens of popular writers, including Jeff Kinney (“The Wimpy Kid” series) Suzanne Collins (“The Hunger Games”) Stephen King, Nicholas Sparks, Amy Tan, John Grisham, JK Rowling, John Green, Lemony Snicket (Daniel Handler) Khaled Husseini, Scott Turrow, James Patterson, Sophie Kinsella, Michael Chabon, Maggie Stiefvater, Dave Barry, James McBride, Harlan Coben, Billy Collins and many more.

“They were all quick to say yes. I think we as authors always appreciate the effort people make to read and cherish their books,” Albom said. “That is so true of readers here in the Philippines, I’ve seen my own books pulled from the flood damaged homes, moldy, discolored, yet brought to me to sign. It’s incredible and heartwarming.”

Albom has been visiting the Philippines since early last week. He purchased and donated 40 yellow fishing boats to help affected fisherman in the region. He then dropped in on classrooms in Tacloban and the Leyte district Monday, and gave books to the children and teachers. He also visited the mass graves in San Joaquin where hundreds of bodies are buried, including many children. One such grave is in the shadow of one of the sites where DRY plans to build a new library.

Albom will coordinate the DRY program through his A Hole In The Roof Foundation, a 501c3 charity which is involved in rebuilding for the homeless after disasters, and has been operating an orphanage in Haiti since 2010, after the devastating earthquake. Albom and NBS Foundation said their goal is to begin construction on the first three libraries by late spring.

As of March 25, 2014, six of the boats were turned over to local fishermen. Enjoy the photo highlights: