Mount Vernon Nazarene University’s Thorne Library recently received a donation of more than 700 children’s books from former educator Nancy Short. The gifts, located in the library's Educational Resource Center, are now available for use and have greatly expanded the children’s literacy collection at the library. A special reception will take place September 8 from 3 to 5 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public.

Before retirement, Nancy Short’s career in education spanned many years and all levels of teaching. While she began as a classroom teacher with the goal of helping children learn to read for pleasure, she was recruited to impact teachers so her knowledge and skills would extend to many more learners.

Short served as director of curriculum and staff development for her district before moving to adjunct professor assignments at both Ashland University and the University of Dayton. As chapter president, area field representative, committee chair, and finally as state coordinator for the Ohio affiliate of the International Reading Association, she gave valuable leadership to programs and projects for hundreds of teachers across the state.

Short collected books so that she could share them. Her home has rooms full of the books she carried to workshops, meetings, and classrooms. Even in retirement, Short’s special interest is enjoying and sharing books with children, adults, and reading professionals. 

“Over many years I've collected and shared my poetry books," Short said. "For the past two years I have been considering a new home for these volumes. I want the books to be available to current and future teachers who will enjoy and share them enthusiastically with children and teens. I feel MVNU's Thorne Library is the perfect home for the poetry collection."

--Mount Vernon Nazarene University