By Alex Kincaid

Two students browse the snow-covered little library outside of Westwood Elementary on a Wednesday afternoon. They pull out books, glance at the covers and put them back until they are content with their selection and begin walking home with a new book in hand.

The little library has only a handful of books left, but it will be fully stocked again on Monday.

That is thanks to Steven Steel, a volunteer at Westwood, who has personally stocked the little library with nearly 800 books since August. Steel volunteers on Mondays and Wednesdays and brings a box of 25-50 books with him each time. At the end of each day, he checks the library to see how many of his books are missing. It brings a smile to his face to know that students are taking and reading the books he brings.

Encyclopedias, dictionaries, and children’s books of all reading levels find their way to Westwood’s little library.

Steel’s first set of books came from a book drive the Miami Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship held in August. After that, Half Price Books donated four boxes. And now, he spends time finding book sales around the Dayton community to stock up on as many books as he can.

“I really enjoy doing this,” Steel said. “I love getting books into the hands of kids.”

Steel has volunteered at Westwood for four years. He currently assists in Rebecca Gunter’s second-grade class. Besides helping students with classwork and MindPlay, he said he acts like a “cheerleader” for the students. He encourages them, shares in their excitement when they understand new concepts, and brings more positivity to the classroom.

“Mr. Steel is a kind, caring, reliable man who has been helping my students for many years,” said Gunter. “He takes a personal interest in each of my students every school year. Students look forward to seeing him and really count on him being in our classroom. Words can’t describe how truly blessed I am to have him volunteering in my classroom.”

Steel said it is just as rewarding to work with Gunter and her students. His favorite part is watching the students develop a love of reading as the school year progresses. He especially loves when they talk about the books they are reading because they found them in the little library.

On one occasion, a student in the class told him how excited she was to find a book in the “Dog Man” series.

“I said, ‘Oh, wow! Did you know I put those books in there?'” Steel said. “She was very excited. She even told me she shared it with another student.”

Steel plans to continue to volunteer at Westwood for years to come because he enjoys it so much. With him there, Westwood students can be assured their little library will always be fully stocked.

Did you know several DPS elementary schools have little libraries? Find one at Fairview, Edison, Cleveland and Westwood!