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Western Washington University students involved in the Center for Service-Learning will read books about civil rights, justice, and service to children ages 3 to 8 at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day read-in event at Village Books in Bellingham.

The read-in takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17.

Accompanying the read-in will be a book drive to benefit the education of area children. Donors can purchase and drop off books for the libraries at Alderwood, Birchwood, Sunnyland and Roosevelt elementary schools. Book displays and drop boxes will be available at Village Books and the Associated Students Bookstore on the ²ÝÁñÉçÇø campus.

²ÝÁñÉçÇø student volunteers are needed for the annual MLK Day Read-In and Book Drive. Contact Beth Parker at (360) 650-7520 or beth.parker@wwu.edu with any questions or to sign up to participate.

Other MLK Day service opportunities and events:

• Ethnic Student Center MLK Events, Jan. 13: Join the ESC for a candlelight vigil and listen to the "I Have a Dream" speech in Red Square from 5 to 6 p.m. There will be a community panel in Viking Union Room 565 at 6 p.m., followed by a reception and community fair at 7 p.m.
• Volunteer training and pizza, Jan. 13: If you are volunteering at one of the reading events, you will attend this training with Karen Hoelscher in the Honors Lounge in College Hall, 4 to 5 p.m.
• Alderwood Elementary School, Jan. 14: ²ÝÁñÉçÇø student volunteers are needed to read books to classes at Alderwood Elementary School in the morning on Friday the 14th. Exact times TBA.
• Bellingham Boys and Girls Club, Jan. 14: ²ÝÁñÉçÇø students will read and lead activities and discussions with kids of all ages at the Boys and Girls Club from 4 to 6 p.m. Volunteer creativity is welcome! If you have ideas for activities related to Dr. King's message, get in touch.
• Human Rights Conference, Jan. 16: The theme this year is "All Together Now: Connecting the Dots for Progressive Change in Whatcom County." View the poster or visit the Whatcom Human Rights Task Force website for more information.
• Taking Root Documentary, Jan. 20: 4 to 5:30 p.m. in Viking Union Room 552. In 1977, Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai of Kenya suggested rural women plant trees to address problems stemming from a degraded environment. Under her leadership, their tree-planting grew into a nationwide movement to safeguard the environment, defend human rights and promote democracy. Join us for this documentary to learn more and hear about the CSL's study abroad program in Kenya.