The Northfield Middle School media center was buzzing with preteens Dec. 13, but it wasn't because students were borrowing books, they were buying them.

The fourth annual Tattered Pages Holiday Extravaganza last week allowed middle school students to purchase gently-used books and holiday gifts, including games and home interior items, to give to their friends or family members.

Tattered Pages began four years ago, starting as a used bookstore for middle school students in an effort to get more books in the hands of students and family members to increase student reading scores and literacy in the home.

Launched by Amy Sieve, Northfield Middle School media specialist, Tattered Pages is a student-run bookstore created in a room of the school's media center where students work and donate used books.

Throughout each school day, students earn Tattered Pages reward coupons in denominations of 50 cents, $1, $3 and $5 for doing odd jobs from the "Job Jar," such as cleaning or acting as lunchroom assistants, earning academic credits from teachers, working in the Tattered Pages bookstore, donating used books or for being caught doing a good deed in school.

The week prior to winter break, the media center morphs into a holiday gift store offering students the opportunity to purchase gifts and books for themselves and family members.

At Dec. 13's kickoff event, students with fistfuls of green Tattered Pages reward coupons tallied the amount they could spend and stretched those coupons as skillfully as a coupon-clipper in the grocery store.

"Tattered Pages not only teaches that hard work is rewarded, but that it's important to thank those we love by giving," said Sieve. "Parents are grateful for this opportunity due to the economic pinch. The students can get really nice gifts for no money, which is huge."

Students have donated an average of 200 books and gifts per day leading up sales week, Sieve said. Tattered Pages touted nearly 3,000 books with used book donations, half-priced books Sieve scored at a Scholastic book sale and new books purchased with grant support.

Receiving grants from The Northfield Healthy Community Initiative, the Minnesota Middle School Association and Women in Northfield Giving Support, Sieve was able to acquire more new books this year, including some written in Spanish, which were snatched up quickly. Sieve also raises funds for Tattered Pages by selling 50-cent bags of popcorn to students every other Friday.

At Dec. 13's event, sixth-grader Lina Colangelo perused books she could purchase with her $54 worth of coupons earned by cleaning jobs in the media center and rewards received from her choir director.

Middle school staffers were on hand manning two gift-wrapping stations so students could leave the event with a complete gift.

Sixth-grader Danny Glampe earned $234 worth of Tattered Pages coupons, which he received from donating used books.

"I bought gift items for Christmas for my family and a few things for myself," he said as he proudly opened a duffle bag filled with festively wrapped gifts.

Tattered Pages is always in need of donations, especially monetary donations or new books, said Sieve. Those interested in donating can contact the Northfield Middle School to find out more about donating to the program by calling 663-0650.