Celebrities Help to Pen New Chapter in School’s Book Quest

Those who think kids don’t like to read--or that they don’t know how to write--have never met the 1,350 teenagers at Valencia High School.

Students at the Santa Clarita campus love books so much that they’ve written to celebrities and dignitaries around the world asking for help in filling empty shelves of their school’s new library--which has room for 50,000 books, but so far only has about 2,500.

By the hundreds, rock stars, actors and statesmen have responded, flooding the youngsters with autographed pictures, books and sports gear that the teenagers plan to auction off today to raise book money.

Educators say the youngsters’ unusual direct-mail appeal may indeed be one for the books. As for the students, they say they had no other choice.

The 10,000-square-foot library was designed as a centerpiece of the campus when it opened two years ago on an isolated hill next to grazing land east of Magic Mountain. But educators ran out of money before they could buy many books to go in it.

The book shortage has been frustrating for students just interested in finding something fun to read. And it’s sent waves of panic through some on days when class

reports are assigned.

That’s because the nearest public libraries are miles away. And they have a limited number of volumes on popular English-report topics such as the lifestyle of Romeo and Juliet, said 14-year-old Ehsan Zaffar, whose parents drive him to the closest public library three times a week to hunt for usable reference books.

Ninth-grader Jamie Reckon has sent her father to libraries as distant as Sherman Oaks in the San Fernando Valley to find books she can use for writing term papers.

“It’s been very difficult,” Jamie said.

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Youngsters started their book drive by buying a book--an $11 paperback called “The Address Book” that lists the names and addresses of celebrities in entertainment, sports and politics.

Then they tore the book apart and divvied up its pages

in English classes, where each student picked a dignitary to write to. In their own words, they explained the situation and begged for a photograph or other signed souvenir that could be sold at auction.

The silent auction idea was proposed by 15-year-old Brian Custer’s mother. Jacquie Custer had seen how popular celebrity items were a few years ago at a fund-raiser staged at Brian’s elementary school.

With some trepidation, school Principal Paul Priesz agreed last October to dip into scarce campus funds for the $650 postage needed for the letters.

There was some trepidation among the teenagers, too, when they sat down to write the likes of Robert Redford, Nancy Kerrigan and Prince Rainier of Monaco.

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But soon return mail from Clint Eastwood, George Clooney, Sting, Vanna White, Tori Spelling, Magic Johnson, George Bush, Billy Idol, Robert De Niro and French President Jacques Chirac started pouring into the school office.

Tyler Haugen, 14, scored autographed cast pictures and signed individual glossies from stars of the television show “ER.”

“I explained we’re in a really bad need for books,” said the ninth-grader.

Sisters Sujana and Sumana Kaplowitz, ages 14 and 17, got House of Blues co-owner Isaac Tigrett to contribute a company jacket, cap and show tickets.

Eleventh-grader Chris Winslow wrote South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

“I didn’t even know who he was at the time,” said the 17-year-old. “I just told him we desperately need books. He sent back a picture signed, ‘God bless you, Desmond Tutu, Cape Town, March ’96.’

“I was very impressed that he wrote me back. I’ve talked to my mom--I’m going to drag her over for the auction. Maybe we’ll bid on it.”

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There could be spirited bidding at the 3:30 p.m. sale.

When a parent took to the Internet with a listing of the auction’s surprise bounty, a flood of e-mail came in. Bids from places like Canada and Belgium and from more than a dozen U.S. states have been received. A woman in San Francisco messaged that she is flying in to bid personally on some of the items.

Celebrities have contributed tickets to TV show tapings, sporting events and concerts. Local merchants have kicked in dinners, overnight hotel stays and groceries. Teachers are donating things like private math tutoring and fishing trips to nearby Castaic Lake.

Educators say the students are winners, no matter how much money is raised.

“This is one of the most creative ideas I’ve ever seen,” said Barbara Jeffus, a library consultant with the state Department of Education.

And the youngsters have no hard feelings for the celebrities who did not respond.

“Maybe Jean-Claude Van Damme didn’t get my letter,” said 10th-grader Adrian Dyrness. “That’s OK. I’m definitely still a fan.”

‘He sent back a picture signed, “God bless you, Desmond Tutu.” ’