Albert Gustaff

An Update on: “Books For Lithuania”

Albert Gustaff (Albertas Guzevièius) is not only the enthusiastic founder of “Books for Lithuania“, but an active member of the Lithuanian Community in Baltimore, Maryland. He and his wife, Leona (a contributing writer to BRIDGES) live in Frederick, Maryland.

Albert Gustaff delivering cartoons for the container. Photo: A. Gustaff

Since 1994, men and women have been collecting and packing textbooks under my guidance. My intense desire was to collect sufficient textbooks to send to all the schools that had classes in English as a Second Language.

I began my task by collecting and sending a few cartons of Literature and textbooks to teachers with whom I was acquainted. They greeted the program with enthusiasm. Libraries were initiated, and the books were utilized with benefit to education. Teachers from other rajonai (regions) in Lithuania made requests. “Books for Lithuania” came into existence.

Unfortunately, 18,000 books are not adequate to provide for every teacher in the country. There is also a need to replenish the supply at times. To possess a book in Lithuania is a precious commodity. The project, “Books for Lithuania” should continue.

Lithuanian American who delivered cartons to the container: (From left to right) Joseph Matulonis, Jonas Danaitis, Balys Brasauskas, Matthew Randolph, Albert Gustaff, Vytautas Brasauskas, and Eddy Budelis.

I ask Lithuanian Americans in other sections of the U.S.A. to send textbooks so that every English teacher in every school would have the use and benefit of good English textbooks and Literature. I would gladly pass on to any interested person or persons the knowledge I have gleaned throughout this long and very valuable program.

In the meantime, I am happy to tell you that a container load, weighing twelve tons, of 18,000 English books arrived in Vilnius on August 27,1999. The following is an excerpt from correspondence mailed to each teacher who had requested books for her students:

“Dear Teachers of English:

At long last 415 cartons of almost 18,000 English books are on their way to Vilnius. They are scheduled to arrive there on August 27, plus or minus two days.

Twenty-seven schools or school districts will receive cartons.

Please be aware that the average weight of a carton is 25 kilograms. You may need a truck, van, or a few automobiles to bring the cartons back to the schools.

Included in this letter is a list of the numbered cartons and its contents that you will receive. In general, we did not list “Books for Lithuania” paperback books in the cartons. They were used as packing material to make the carton firm so that it would not collapse when other cartons were piled on top.

Albert Gustaff and Jonas Kardokas load the cartons into the container. Photos: A. Gustaff

Every year the school departments in Maryland discard thousands of books, mostly to recyclers, free of charge. About 10% of the discards that are in good and usable condition have been made available to us. We sent out teams of men to collect them from the schools. They were sorted and packed by other "Books for Lithuania" men and women; so, please forgive us if there are any mistakes.”

Financial support for this project comes from Lithuanian Americans, Americans from many other ethnic groups, and from many different religious faiths. This is a people to people or people to teachers program. No foundations or governments are involved. It is our hope that these books will serve the youth, as many prepare for careers in government, industry, and other vocations.

Sincerely, in behalf of Lietuviø Socialiniø Reikalø Taryba, [The Lithuanian American Community's Lithuanian Human Services Council], Lietuviø Namai in Baltimore Maryland, Friends of Lithuania throughout the United States who made generous donations, and those who collected, packed, and worked for the "Books for Lithuania" project, and my beloved wife who wrote stories about Lithuanian heroes and heroines to raise funds.

I thank the Lithuanian Human Services Council in Chicago, Illinois; BRIDGES News Journal; Eddy Budelis; the members of the Lithuanian Hall Association in Baltimore, Maryland; Gordon Matulonis, owner of the establishment where the books were stored and packed; GeorgeWard, designer of the gold engraving, "Laisvë"; and the many Lithuanian Americans, as well as other Americans who generously donated funds to the “Books for Lithuania” for their vast and much appreciated support.