Running a children's book project takes time and dedication from many individuals.
To help promote literacy among American schoolchildren, the Children's Book Project began collecting donated books in 1992. The group, based in San Francisco, has donated more than 1.5 million new and gently used books to schools, daycare centers, shelters and community organizations since its inception. Starting a book project like this requires dedication and determination. The benefits are not only helping children learn to read, but creating an opportunity for others to give to young people in need.
Instructions
1. Partner with another group and enlist help. Book projects take lots of time and manpower. Create a committee that will help with logistics, book pickup and storage. If the committee is understaffed at any point, recruit more people. Get volunteers by posting ads on free classifieds websites such as Craigslist. Create Facebook and MySpace pages for your group to let people know you're looking for help.
2. Decide who will receive the books. Starting locally is a good idea, as you won't have to worry about shipping or delivering books across long distances. Start small by choosing a few schools and community centers in poorer areas of your city or town. Talk with local librarians and teachers, who often have the inside scoop on which schools and organizations are most in need of books.
3. Find a place to store the books. Ask friends, family members and co-workers whether they have unused garage space. Perhaps a local business has empty warehouse space, or a school might have an unused storage facility. The more you publicize your project, the greater your chance of finding a suitable space for your books.
4. Promote your project. Send press releases to newspapers, magazines, and television and radio stations. Post fliers on bulletin boards at coffeehouses, bookstores, markets and libraries. Enlist committee members to come up with ideas to spread the word. Inform others about your project's progress by posting regular updates on social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.
5. Send letters requesting book donations to libraries, bookstores, retail stores and book publishers. You can also call them or stop by. Describe the project's history and mission and how the books will benefit schools and organizations in your community. When writing to companies, include a mailing address where donated books can be shipped, as well as your personal contact information.
6. Ask individuals for donations. Tell friends and family members about your project and ask whether they can collect books from co-workers, members of their synagogues or churches, and families and friends.
7. Distribute the books. Personally deliver the books or arrange times for school or organization staff members to browse through your collection. When individuals stop by to pick up books, ask permission to take photographs and get quotes from them so that you can use these in promotional materials and social networking sites.
