Tips for an Effective Book Drive

Organizing a book drive and donating books is a great activity! Book drives are a fun way to bring people together for a good cause, and you can organize one through a special event or through an office or community-wide campaign. They can be held in the reception area of an office, local restaurant, apartment building or religious institution. Here are some tips to get you started:

v  GOAL

Get a committee together and begin by setting a goal for how many books you would like to collect, how long the book drive will last and where they will be donated. Find out from the organization what types of books they prefer.

v  CREATE

Create your book drops. These can be simple cardboard boxes or large bins. Select a space (or spaces) for the book drop that is clean and free from dust and moisture. Make sure your bin is clearly identified as the book drop.

v  ADVERTISE

Once you have determined where these books will be donated, begin advertising where & when the book drops will be placed, who these books will be donated to, and clearly communicate what your goal is. This can be through signs, emails, ads on your organization’s web site or newsletter, flyers, banners, letters and phone calls.

v  COLLECT & SORT

Once the books have been collected, sort through them and place book stickers on the inside flap. Here’s an example:

DONATED BY THE EMPLOYEES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION This book belongs to:   _______________________________ www.justreadflorida.com

v  DISTRIBUTION

Arrange a date and time when you can personally drop the books off to make sure that they get into the hands of the right person. Establish when and where you will deliver the books and let them know how many books you are delivering.

 

v  WHEN YOU’RE DONE

Collect all of the book bins, save them for your next drive and make sure everything is back in place. Issue a press release detailing the successes of your book drive and be sure to thank your volunteers for all of their hard work!