When Dallas County Schools’ librarians gathered for a scheduled meeting Monday, they were surprised to find a late Christmas gift — approximately 2,000 new books.

Two Montgomery Books-A-Million stores donated the collection, which was valued at more than $9,000, to the school district.

Books-A-Million customers funded the donation by purchasing books for the school district during the holiday’s.

“To think that many people from Montgomery purchased a book for us in Dallas County is just overwhelming,” said Don Willingham, Dallas County Schools’ superintendent of education. “It means the world [to us].”

Southside High alumnae Belinda Farrior, who serves as general manager at one of the Montgomery stores, said she wanted to help her home county.

Recalling the tough times she had finding a book as a Southside student, she decided that Dallas County Schools deserved more options.

“We need to improve our libraries down here, so I decided to bring in new books to improve their minds,” Farrior said.

The teachers were in awe of the selection of donated books, which included material for all ages, and even joked about battling one another for the best ones.

Because the libraries don’t receive any enhancement funds, each depends on grants for purchases, according to Dallas County Schools Supervisor Felicia King-Thomas.

“With them having more current books, they’ll visit the library even more,” King-Thomas said.

The librarians spoke about how much they appreciated Farrior’s efforts, including Bruce K. Craig Elementary Librarian Barbara Miles.

“My kids are going to be so excited,” Miles said. “They’ve been asking for new books for awhile.”