Randie's Free Library

Randie Danielle Camp has always had a very giving heart. With limited resources, Randie always tried her best to brighten someone's life, especially through stories and books. Randie is still giving, even during this pandemic and the snowfall we had last night. Have a safe n' Merry Christmas, Everyone. - Randolph Randy Camp (Note: Randie's Free Library is located on Kirkwood Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa)

The following text is written in Randie’s own words……I’m not sure this accurately depicts my relationship with reading. Obsessed and addicted come to mind but I could do without the negative connotations. Bookworm? According to Merriam-Webster.com, a bookworm is “a person unusually devoted to reading and study”. Hmmm, getting warmer but I collect books too. Bookworm + collecting books = bibliophile. That’s better but there is still huge piece of my relationship with reading being left out. I love the smell of books, the confirmation email noting an ebook purchase, the way books gather on shelves, the moment the author hooks me into either loving or hating a character, browsing the library, talking about books, reading books aloud, sharing my love of reading with others (especially children or adult non-readers), when one more page turns into three more chapters, helping others understand the value of early literacy, turning to a book for the support and love that the world cannot offer, finding friends in a character, using books to educate myself on an unknown, holding presentations to teach others how to use books as a supportive tool for coping with everything and anything. I just love reading, everything about reading. As it happened, my childhood was very rocky. Books were my constant. My love of reading made it possible for me to develop the skills I needed to cope with life and pursue something better. Now, I seek to empower others. – Randie Danielle Camp (as stated from ‘Randie’s Book Reviews’)

APPRECIATING GRACIOUS NEIGHBORS: Randie's Free Library...During this coronavirus pandemic many public libraries are shutdown or only offering limited services. Please consider donating your used books to a neighborhood free library or book exchange. Books have this amazing ability to light up someone's life. Randie's Free Library would like to thank our Kirkwood Avenue neighbors, Mark and Jen, for their gracious donation of over fifty books recently. And again, a big thank you to Sherry Grant, the St. Vincent dePaul Society (Kristen, Chad, and Jennifer), the Forest Branch of the Des Moines Public Library, and so many other kind neighbors who have contributed to the growing collection of books at Randie's Free Library, and for keeping Randie Danielle Camp's dream alive by spreading the joy of reading to everyone. Read, read, read. Thank you, Randolph Randy Camp

Dr. Randie Camp...Finding Home

It’s amazing how some people can attract and draw in so many people towards them. And it’s so special when you go out into the world and you actually find true, sincere genuine love. Some of us get lucky with that, and some of us don’t. My daughter Randie was certainly one of the lucky ones. Randie poured her heart and soul into her goals and dreams. She was always climbing higher. Randie was very fortunate when she landed in Ames, Iowa and found ‘home’ there. In the Iowa State University directory (in Dept. of Human Development and Family Studies) this is what Randie said in response to ‘Hometown’, ” I always felt that ‘home’ is a feeling…not a place.” Randie was working on her Ph.D. when she fell ill and couldn’t cross the finish line…but you know what…Yes indeed! Randie’s home team picked her up and carried her across the finish line themselves! From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank all of the good folks at Iowa State University for posthumously awarding ‘Dr. Randie Danielle Camp’ her Ph.D……To me, what the ISU faculty did for Randie was very similar to the Simon Cheprot story. (If you’re unaware of what this Kenyan marathon runner did last year at the 2019 Okpekpe Race, then please do go and check it out…so inspiring!) Again, I would like to thank Tera Jordan, Amy Popillion, Cassandra Dorius, Megan Gilligan, Carl Weems, Kere Hughes-Belding, Laura Jolly, William Graves, and Jonathan Wickert. – Randolph Randy Camp The following text is written in Randie’s own words……I’m not sure this accurately depicts my relationship with reading. Obsessed and addicted come to mind but I could do without the negative connotations. Bookworm? According to Merriam-Webster.com, a bookworm is “a person unusually devoted to reading and study”. Hmmm, getting warmer but I collect books too. Bookworm + collecting books = bibliophile. That’s better but there is still huge piece of my relationship with reading being left out. I love the smell of books, the confirmation email noting an ebook purchase, the way books gather on shelves, the moment the author hooks me into either loving or hating a character, browsing the library, talking about books, reading books aloud, sharing my love of reading with others (especially children or adult non-readers), when one more page turns into three more chapters, helping others understand the value of early literacy, turning to a book for the support and love that the world cannot offer, finding friends in a character, using books to educate myself on an unknown, holding presentations to teach others how to use books as a supportive tool for coping with everything and anything. I just love reading, everything about reading. As it happened, my childhood was very rocky. Books were my constant. My love of reading made it possible for me to develop the skills I needed to cope with life and pursue something better. Now, I seek to empower others. – Randie Danielle Camp (as stated from ‘Randie’s Book Reviews’)

Angels Among Us

Thank God for the Angels among us. This 2020 year thusfar has been a challenge, to say the least, but it’s an unusually warm, sunny November day in Des Moines today. I’d pulled into my driveway a little while ago and noticed a box sitting on my front doorstep. The box was addressed to ‘RANDIE’S FREE LIBRARY’. It had traveled over a 1000 miles from Fredericksburg, Virginia! Thank you Sherry Grant for fulfilling my daughter’s dream and for being one of God’s Angels. Sherry, your box of nearly 100 children’s books will certainly put a smile on a kid’s face and brighten a kid’s life here in Des Moines. So many of you are Angels, and the coolest and the most beautiful thing about it is that you don’t need or bother to seek out any fanfare for your good deeds. Yes indeed, thank God for all of you Humbled Angels among us. – Randolph Randy Camp (Note:Located on Kirkwood Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa, RANDIE’S FREE LIBRARY honors the life of Randie Danielle Camp, who devoted most of her adult years to teaching the importance of literacy and the healing benefits of Bibliotherapy.)

APPRECIATING GRACIOUS NEIGHBORS: Randie's Free Library...During this coronavirus pandemic many public libraries are shutdown or only offering limited services. Please consider donating your used books to a neighborhood free library or book exchange. Books have this amazing ability to light up someone's life. Randie's Free Library would like to thank our Kirkwood Avenue neighbors, Mark and Jen, for their gracious donation of over fifty books recently. And again, a big thank you to Sherry Grant, the St. Vincent dePaul Society (Kristen, Chad, and Jennifer), the Forest Branch of the Des Moines Public Library, and so many other kind neighbors who have contributed to the growing collection of books at Randie's Free Library, and for keeping Randie Danielle Camp's dream alive by spreading the joy of reading to everyone. Read, read, read. Thank you, Randolph Randy Camp

Randie's Free Library

Located on Kirkwood Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa, Randie's Free Library honors the life of Randie Danielle Camp, who devoted most of her adult years to teaching the importance of literacy and the sometimes healing powers of Bibliotherapy.

APPRECIATING GRACIOUS NEIGHBORS: Randie's Free Library...During this coronavirus pandemic many public libraries are shutdown or only offering limited services. Please consider donating your used books to a neighborhood free library or book exchange. Books have this amazing ability to light up someone's life. Randie's Free Library would like to thank our Kirkwood Avenue neighbors, Mark and Jen, for their gracious donation of over fifty books recently. And again, a big thank you to Sherry Grant, the St. Vincent dePaul Society (Kristen, Chad, and Jennifer), the Forest Branch of the Des Moines Public Library, and so many other kind neighbors who have contributed to the growing collection of books at Randie's Free Library, and for keeping Randie Danielle Camp's dream alive by spreading the joy of reading to everyone. Read, read, read. Thank you, Randolph Randy Camp The following text is written in Randie’s own words……I’m not sure this accurately depicts my relationship with reading. Obsessed and addicted come to mind but I could do without the negative connotations. Bookworm? According to Merriam-Webster.com, a bookworm is “a person unusually devoted to reading and study”. Hmmm, getting warmer but I collect books too. Bookworm + collecting books = bibliophile. That’s better but there is still huge piece of my relationship with reading being left out. I love the smell of books, the confirmation email noting an ebook purchase, the way books gather on shelves, the moment the author hooks me into either loving or hating a character, browsing the library, talking about books, reading books aloud, sharing my love of reading with others (especially children or adult non-readers), when one more page turns into three more chapters, helping others understand the value of early literacy, turning to a book for the support and love that the world cannot offer, finding friends in a character, using books to educate myself on an unknown, holding presentations to teach others how to use books as a supportive tool for coping with everything and anything. I just love reading, everything about reading. As it happened, my childhood was very rocky. Books were my constant. My love of reading made it possible for me to develop the skills I needed to cope with life and pursue something better. Now, I seek to empower others. – Randie Danielle Camp (as stated from ‘Randie’s Book Reviews’)

Keep The Arts

Promoting and nurturing creativity is always a good thing.


Ever since I was a little boy I used to listen to the songs on the radio so intensely. I was fascinated by the stories and characters within these songs, especially the early songs of artists such as Curtis Mayfield and Bob Dylan.


When I was able to read I would read anything I could get my hands on, books, magazines, Readers Digest, etc. I was amazed at how someone could dream up something in their head, put it on paper and then see it come to life within the comics or in a novel.


One of my favorite classes at Spotsylvania Jr. High was 8th grade Language Arts. We kept a journal that we would turn in weekly and the teacher would give her feedback on it. In the journal we had the creative freedom to jot down our personal thoughts, write poems or short stories, etc. And, looking back now, I think that it was this particular class that really got my mind to open up and let some of the characters I’d been dreaming up out unto the page.


Sadly, across America in recent years, a lot of school districts have eliminated arts education from our classrooms (mostly due to budget issues). This is very unfortunate because I’ve personally experienced and come to know the extraordinary value of these arts educational programs and classes in our public schools. Without a doubt, my 8th grade Language Arts class and other arts-based classes definitely played a big role in cultivating my childhood passion for storytelling and creating my own original characters.


Although science, math and other STEM-related programs are crucial for students nowadays, I hope that school districts that are dealing with low funds and budget issues will find the balance and a way to compromise to keep arts education in their curriculum because I strongly believe that helping students to express themselves in creative ways builds a strong foundation for a productive child and a positive student.


I’m so grateful for all of my teachers during my early years in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, and God bless all of the moms, dads, dedicated volunteers, teachers and educators across the world who are helping kids and students every single day to open their minds and express themselves. – Randolph Randy Camp


More at https://www.amazon.com/author/randolphcamp


(By the way, no, I didn’t create the comic character Harley Quinn. That credit goes to Paul Dini and Bruce Timm.)