By Lauren Hammond
As Open Books, Chicago s first non-profit literacy bookstore, works on our new location, we remain busy collecting used books, raising awareness about illiteracy and improving reading skills throughout the city. To help us do that, and in partnership with Better World Books, we are holding The Great American Book Drive later this month.
You can donate books without even getting out of your car. Our volunteers will unload your books and process your donation while you wait. All of the proceeds will go towards funding literacy programs for children and adults in the Chicago area. We ll be saving your old books from ending up in landfills and sending them to people who will enjoy reading them as much as you have.
The vitals:
Date: Sunday, October 26
Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: 213 West Institute Place
Don t have a way to get to us? Open Books is also offering book pickups at your home.
Background
Open Books was founded in May of 2006. Our mission is simple: to be the premier non-profit bookstore, literacy community center, and volunteer corps dedicated to raising awareness about illiteracy, improving reading skills, and spreading the love of books in Chicago and beyond.
In the past, we have held events such as book drives and book swaps. We also have many volunteer opportunities. In our reading buddies program, volunteers meet weekly at nine different locations around the city for an hour to help their buddy with reading, comprehension and vocabulary. Open Books also hosts creative writing field trips at our office twice a week for different classes from grades 4-12.
Any book donations made are tax deductible.
Better World Books is our partner for the Great American Book Drive. They began in the Spring of 2001 with three graduating college student who realized just how many used books end up in landfills each year. Their organization is now a leader in turning donated books into funding for world literacy programs. All of the books donated during the Great American Book Drive will be sent to Better World Books. A percentage of the proceeds will then come back to Open Books so we can continue funding literacy programs throughout Chicago.
Posted on October 2, 2008