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BooksFirst! collects good books that aren’t being used, and gets them to schools and teachers across the country who need them. Working with groups and individuals around the country we collect thousands of books annually, sort those books, and send them directly to teachers in quantities large enough to create a full classroom library—typically, more than 200 books.
There are three important elements to our approach: Book collection, book distribution, and the role of our regional chapter locations.
Book Collection
Books are collected nationwide through BookDrives! organized by members of a local community. Schools, religious institutions, community and civic organizations, businesses, neighborhoods, and individuals all partner with BooksFirst! to host BookDrives!. Members of the local community bring their gently used books to a nearby bookdrive, from where they are sent to one of BooksFirst!’s locations across the country to be sorted and delivered to teachers.
To learn more about hosting a book drive, follow this link.
Book Distribution
Once books are collected, they are sorted on grade level appropriateness by BooksFirst! volunteers at one of our regional chapters. Teachers from at risk areas across the country request books from BooksFirst!, specifying classroom size and the levels of books needed by their students. Our regional chapter volunteers combine books to create a custom distribution for each teacher and either deliver it by hand or ship it directly to their classroom.
While sending books from BookDrive! locations to one of our chapters for sorting does add a small shipping cost, it allows us to maintain exceptionally high quality control standards. It also gives us the ability to combine books from multiple book drives to create the best possible set of books for each classroom we send to. Teachers who receive books from BooksFirst! can be sure they are receiving only books that are in outstanding condition, that they are receiving exactly the type of books their classroom needs, and that they are receiving enough books to make a difference.
To learn more about receiving books at your school or classroom, follow this link .
Regional Chapters
With BookDrives! and book distribution happening across the country, many of BooksFirst!’s volunteers operate ‘virtually’—staying in touch and providing support by email and phone. Our regional chapters are an exception since they are comprised of volunteers who all live and volunteer with BooksFirst! in the same geographic area(San Diego, CA, for example). These chapters play two important roles.
First, they receive, sort, and distribute to teachers all of the books collected through local and regional BookDrives! Each chapter distributes books both in their local community and to teachers across the country, personally delivering the former, and shipping the latter. Second, the chapter volunteers work together and with local groups to host community specific BookDrives, fundraisers, and informational events.
We are currently growing our base of regional chapters. To date, we have a regional chapter in San Diego, CA and are in the initial stages of forming a chapter in Washington D.C. We are seeking highly motivated leaders to join us in this exciting development and become regional chapter directors or volunteers. With the help of a supportive team, you can make a true impact in your community by recycling gently used books into classrooms that desperately need resources. To learn more about joining an existing chapter or starting a new one in another location, follow this link.
Also of Note...
Everyone involved in BooksFirst!—from the individuals and groups who host BookDrives!, to our regional chapter volunteers who distribute books and run community events, to our national management team and board members—is a volunteer. This allows us to keep overhead to an absolute minimum and to ensure that our resources and your donations go directly to helping teachers in under-resourced communities. | |
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