That’s right folks, our 2nd Annual LEAP for Libraries Grant Application is NOW OPEN and we’re searching for today’s library program game-changers.

What is LEAP?
LEAP stands for Literacy and Education in Action Program.  A portion of every book purchased on BetterWorldBooks.com supports literacy and education around the world.  We use LEAP as a way to support libraries and literacy non-profits through grants.  

Who Won the LEAP for Libraries Grant Last Year?
Approximately 3.5 million dollars worth of grant requests and almost 240 applications were reviewed by the Better World Books Literacy and Library Council in 2011. While there were countless worthy projects, six emerged as the winning grant recipients.  You can find their winning grant stories at www.betterworldbooks.com/librarygrants.

We have just thing for this campaign! Recently, we have created a series of short films which highlight the impact that folks like you make every time you donate books or shop with Better World Books. We’ve entered six videos into the contest and would love for you to view and vote for them to be shown at the TED conferences this year.The videos

A homeless 9th grader who got his first book through the BWB/Feed The Children teacher store tells his story. The spot ties buying and donating to impact like Zachariah’s story.

2:40 – http://www.youtube.com/tedaws?x=us_showcasephase2_8324_27

60 seconds – http://www.youtube.com/tedaws?x=us_showcasephase2_8327_27

From the age of 5, Agnes had to sleep in the Ugandan jungle to hide from rebel soldiers. Today, she is a proud university graduate thanks to BWB and Invisible Children.

90 seconds – http://www.youtube.com/tedaws?x=us_showcasephase2_8328_27

30 seconds – http://www.youtube.com/tedaws?x=us_showcasephase2_8329_27

Our new literacy initiative – Book for Book. Better World Books commits to matching every sale on betterworldbooks.com and betterworldbooks.co.uk with a book donation to someone in need. This initiative is in addition to the funding Better World Books gives to literacy non-profits from every single sale.

1:40 – http://www.youtube.com/tedaws?x=us_showcasephase2_8325_27

Did you know that 2 billion pounds of books each year are sent to the landfill? And 21% of people in the US are functionally illiterate. We have a way to help address the environmental impact while also building advocacy around education and book donations. It’s our Better World Books drop box program! One parking spot can help change the world.

2 minutes – http://www.youtube.com/tedaws?x=us_showcasephase2_8326_27

We are honored to carry many of the meaningful titles we stock at Better World Books and one of those that means the most to us is What You Wish For, a special book full of a collection of the world’s best-selling and honored writers for young adults and children. The authors share stories and poems that captivate, inspire, and offer hope about things we all wish for. Together with Darfur advocate and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Mia Farrow, who wrote the book’s moving Foreword, they contributed to this amazing collection for free so that the proceeds could be used to fund libraries in Darfuri refugee camps in Chad.

We’ve all heard of Toys for Tots, but what about those old textbooks that you don’t ever want to see again? Is there a way they, too, can help children in need worldwide learn to read?

This holiday season we’re giving you the chance to create abundance with your unwanted textbooks!

If you and 3 of your friends pledge to send us your textbooks by Dec 20th you’ll all receive 10% off your textbooks for next semester when you buy them on BetterWorldBooks.com.

Shipping your books is easy and free.  Simply fill out the form on our Facebook campaign page.  We will get back to you with the easiest way to send. Have questions? Drop us a line at campus@betterworldbooks.com.

By sending your books you are joining a network of nearly 2,000 collegiate book drives across the US and Canada.

These book drives serve as green service projects, organizational fundraisers for students and a source of invaluable funding for worldwide literacy. Your books will generate an abundance of learning opportunities for those who otherwise would not have access to such material. Our non-profit partners like Invisible Children, Room to Read and Books for Africa will ensure your book donations reach those most in need.

You will also create a wave of gratitude from students who will have access to an even larger selection of used textbooks during the textbook buying season in January (some titles are already discounted up to 90%).

Thank you, good luck on exams and happy holidays!

Take part here.

Why do you send your books to Better World Books? Which cause do you support through your textbooks? We’d love for you to share your story below.

Dear stellar students, the following is an exciting update from your campus reps at BWB.

We want you to put us to work at the warehouse of our partner, Books for Africa, so we can provide some much needed (wo)manpower in support of their efforts to end the book famine in Africa.

Now that Halloween is over, it feels like the remaining holidays for 2011 are rushing in to take its place. On November 1st I heard Christmas music playing in a sandwich shop and it seems like there are even more commercials on TV reminding you to go out and shop, shop, shop. As we still have some breathing room before the holidays arrive, it’s important to take a moment to stop and reflect on what we can all do to help others in need.

The Better World Books On Campus Team has definitely been thinking about this and we want to let you know about our November service project. (Read carefully because you play a very important part in the plan!)

Here’s the deal: if we receive 3,000 cartons of books from our student group and bookstore friends by November 30th, our entire campus team here at Better World Books will spend an afternoon volunteering in the Books for Africa warehouse. Send us a total of 5,000 cartons, and we’ll all volunteer for an entire day (that’s 56 volunteer hours!).

What do these numbers mean? Right now we’re a little over a third of the way to our 3,000 box target. If we can hit this target, we can not only donate our time, but these books can generate $16,000 to support Better World Books’ non-profit literacy partners with over 4,000 books being donated directly to Books For Africa.

If we can go beyond this and rise to the challenge of sending in 5,000 boxes then we can generate $26,000 in funding for worldwide literacy and 6,000 books in donations.

We’re counting on your support! If you have any questions, or if you need any help with supplies or shipping, please don’t hesitate to call or email your Account Executive. And be sure to check as the numbers rise on Facebook and Twitter every Monday before November 30th.

Here is an amazing example of where many of you have decided to help make a difference through raising books. Hope you are as excited and encouraged by this video from our friends at Invisible Children as we are. Please share widely!

More than 1,800 college and university campuses have already committed to partnering with Better World Books this year in our no cost book reuse/recycling programs for libraries, bookstores, recyclers and student groups.

These programs support campus waste reduction strategies, while generating funding to support worldwide literacy initiatives.

The 2010-2011 academic year saw participation from 1,858 campuses across Canada and the United States, with 3,424,138 pounds of book waste diverted from campus waste streams.

Top participants were the State University of New York College – Geneseo, Ohio State University – Columbus, and Wright State University – Dayton, who diverted a combined total of nearly 150,000 pounds of book waste. Better World Books is offering to conduct book waste reduction audits for any school interested.

Through Better World Book Drives, lead organizers have the chance to go on the trip of a lifetime. For the last couple of years, Better World Books takes the top two student book drive leaders on an international literacy trip.  Past winners have gone to Uganda and South Africa. Last year’s top two student book drive organizers got to go to Peru and Chile with Better World Books and our partners at Worldfund.

Want to learn more about running a book drive on your campus? Click here.

Have you run a Better World Book Drive on your campus? Tell us about it!

No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Some restrictions apply. One winner per household. You need not be present to win.

The contest: We just launched a brand new commitment to making this a better world. BOOK FOR BOOK. In honor of this, we need a new tee shirt. (Check out our current tee shirts here).

We ♥ our fans as much as we ♥ books and want you to wear your BWB tee shirt with pride. What better way to adore a tee shirt than to design it yourself?

You have until Wednesday, August 31 to submit your tee shirt ideas on this event. You can either upload a photo of your t-shirt design or just comment with your tee shirt slogan idea.

On Monday, Sept 12 we will announce the top 5 tee shirt choices.

Having your friends vote for your design/slogan with likes will help us pick the top 5.

Voting will begin on the 12th and last until noon (ET) on Wednesday, Sept 28 and at 1pm (ET) we will announce the next tee shirt for Better World Books!

Where: The entire contest will take place on Facebook.

Owner of content: By submitting your design, slogan or any comment or photo on the “Create the next BWB tee shirt!” Facebook event page, you are giving all rights of that material to Better World Books to solely own from then forward.

How to enter: Submit your t-shirt idea as a comment or upload your design as a photo on the “Create the next BWB tee shirt!” Facebook event.

How to win: First, upload your photo or enter your comment on the Facebook event by Wednesday, August 31 at 12pm ET. We will pick the top 5 submissions based mostly on number of likes and positive comments on each entry. Starting Monday, Sept 12 voting begins on the Facebook event page. The winner will be the entry with the most “likes” by 12pm ET on Wednesday, Sept 28.

Important dates:

• Wednesday, August 31 – Submission deadline first round
• Monday, Sept 12 – Announce top 5 picks & voting begins
• Wednesday, Sept 28 – Voting ends on top 5 picks at 12pm ET and winner is announced at 1pm ET

Grand Prize: There will be one single winner who will win five free tee shirts – of their design – and the honor of creating BWB’s Book for Book tee shirt that will be sold on our website.

Unforeseen Events: Better World Books reserves the right to change this contest at its sole discretion at any time that Better World Books becomes aware of any circumstances or occurrence which would materially affect the contest security or fairness. Better World Books reserves the right to announce any contest rules changes over the air, in print or posters. (Better World Books is not responsible for the inability of the winner to accept the prize for any reason).

List of Winners: For the name of the winner, check Facebook or send an electronic inquiry to 11@betterworldbooks.com.

Good luck!

Better World Books and the National Center for Family Literacy are teaming up again this year to provide grants for libraries with exceptional family programming.

Applications are now being accepted for the Better World Books/NCFL Libraries and Families Award. You can get more information and apply at online at http://www.famlit.org/BWB-library-award.  Applications are due by Nov. 12, 2010.

NCFL anticipates awarding three $10,000 grant awards– one in each of the following three categories:

1) Local Friends of the Library programs
2) Public/academic libraries
3) Urban libraries

In addition, award recipients will receive scholarships to attend the National Conference on Family Literacy.

Last year’s winners are doing amazing things!  Learn more about them here!

This will be the second year of the award and the latest partnership effort between our organizations, which together have raised more than $555,000 for NCFL’s programming since 2005.

GRAND PRIZE WINNERS:
Lynne G from South Bend, IN (Facebook) and  @ilanastein from Johannesburg, South Africa (Twitter)

SECOND PRIZE WINNERS:
From Twitter:  @sweepscat713 – San Jose, CA, @akritical – Charlottesville, VA, @canaryred – Baltimore, MD, @synical – Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, @dianadoll – Coarsegold, CA, @kkhoulden – Oak Ridge, NC, @jseniar – Enfield, NH, @rikostan – Rose, NY, @cmizerski – St. Clair Shores, MI.

And From Facebook: Desiy L. – Burnaby, Canada, Lydia S. – Jacksonville, FL, Jessica K. – Chantily, VA, Holly C. – Effort, PA, Meghan M. – Fridley, MN, Paulina A. – Bali, Indonesia, Kristen L. – Sanford, FL, Kimm G. – Ontario, Canada, Naga C. – Bangalore, India.

It’s back… the Better World Books “Year of Books” contest is back and better than ever!

How is it better, you ask?

1.  Well first of all it starts today, whereas last year’s contest is over.

2.  This year there will be 2 grand prize winners compared with only 1 lonely winner last year.  That’s twice the winners!  These lucky ducks will not only get a year of books, but they will also get a snazzy Better World Books t-shirt AND a fabulous Better World Books tote bag.

3.  But wait, there’s more… last year we had 9 second place winners… this year we’re doubling the fun and giving a whopping 18 second prizes which consist of one $10 Better World Books gift certificate, the snazzy BWB shirt and the fab BWB tote.

“Enough,” you may say, “I’m in. Now how the heck do I enter?”   Well this year we’re all about more.  Last year there was only one way to enter… this year there are two:

1. Follow Better World Books on Twitter and then click this link or copy and paste the following message to your Twitter followers to enter: “I just entered the @BWBooks ‘Year of Books’ Contest. I can win a year’s supply of books! (http://bit.ly/bwbyearofbooks) #bwbcontest”

2. Like Better World Books on Facebook and enter the Year of Books Sweepstakes. Fill out the required form and share the contest entry with your friends with the following message: “I just entered the Better World Books ‘Year of Books’ Contest. I can win a year’s supply of books!”  And guess what, for every friend you tell on Facebook that enters, you get an extra entry.

Have questions?  Need more info?  Check out our FAQ and the Terms & Conditions.

What are you still doing here?  Go enter.  The contest starts today – but you only have until the end of June to enter!

Good luck!  I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this is your lucky year!  Okay go… go already!

**UPDATE – FEBRUARY 19TH, 2010 – PLEASE NOTE – VOTING HAS ENDED**

I get asked a lot of questions about our mission, our business model and our industry, so it was certainly refreshing on a cold, crisp morning this past January to have someone ask “Why literacy for children?  Why focus our literacy efforts on them?  Why do you value reading and literacy efforts for children?”  You can hear some of my thoughts on this in a video that was recently produced to help support childhood literacy efforts here in the state of Georgia.

That day, I joined a group of Georgia based CEO’s and university presidents in a friendly competition to draw attention to childhood literacy efforts and had a great experience.  I went to Premier Academy where I met with Gladys Gore, her staff and about twenty or so four year-olds for whom I had the pleasure of reading several books. There are few joys that match seeing a story come to life in the eyes and smiles and laughter of children!  Starting with The Very Hungry Caterpillar and right on through 3 or 4 books I read to the children that morning, their enthusiasm and love for learning through reading…..and all the new worlds this opens up for them…..is not only contagious but worth every minute of our collective efforts to champion.

I serve on the Board for the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy here in Georgia.  The mission:  Provide books for local communities to prepare all Georgia pre-school children for reading and learning success, regardless of income levels.”  “For the Love of Reading” is available to children residing in Georgia and provides one free book each month from birth to age 5; currently, over 70 counties in Georgia are being served through this Program from the Ferst Foundation.

We still have a long way to go and many pre-K children to reach.  I certainly want you to have fun with this “CEO Reader” contest and vote for your favorite “reader”…..but more importantly, get involved in supporting literacy and education in your own communities.  Our children are our future.  Help them enter school with a solid foundation of being able to read and you’ll be unlocking all of the beauty and potential that lies within each and every one of them.

David

Here’s the short version of the plan:

We get a bio-diesel book mobile and drive it around the country distributing 1 million kids’ books to those who need ‘em most.

The goals of the project are:
* Hold literacy events in at least 200 communities.
* Get families reading and learning together.
* Help struggling schools raise money.
* Promote family literacy with the National Center for Family Literacy
* Get 1 Million Children’s Books in the hands of kids nationwide.

Check out the video from Xavier with some more of the details:

Vote Now!

Cast your vote AND help spread the word.

(Update 8-11-2009: Congratulations to @rotemu, our first place winner! Enjoy your Year of Books!)
(Update 8-12-2009: Congratulations to our 2nd place winners: @whendrinksmix, @gabbytmb, @45thParallelism, @Calig_Kela, @fartsyarts, @TsarLeo, @Nimue23, @kinfolknews, and @ygor!)

The Year of Books contest begins today!  Here’s how to enter:

1. Follow @BWBooks on Twitter.
2. Tweet this (Click here or copy & paste the following into Twitter):

I just entered the @BWBooks “Year of Books” Contest. I can win a year’s supply of books (and more)! (http://bit.ly/yearofbooks) #bwbcontest

The randomly-selected Winner will receive:

• Free Books for a Year!
  This will be in the form of one $20 gift certificate code emailed once a month.  You can use this toward anything we sell on the website, including the Bargain Bin (Since the Bin allows you to get 5 books for $15, you could get 80 Bargain Bin books over the course of the year!).
• Tote Bag
  This is how you carry your plethora of books.  It’s sturdy, structurally sound, and reduces arm-strain.
• Better World Books T-shirt
  Your choice of our “Please Read Responsibly” or “Well Read” shirts in mens or ladies.  This covers your body while you read your plethora of books, and protects you from drafts of cold air.
  

2nd through 10th place Winners will receive:

• One $10 Gift Certificate
• Tote Bag
• Better World Books T-shirt

Don’t forget to Follow @BWBooks on Twitter once you’ve tweeted the message so that we can Direct Message you and get your info.  Otherwise we’re, um,  contractually obligated to use your prizes ourselves… yeah.

The contest ends Friday, August 7th, at 11:59:59 PM, Pacific Time.

If you have any other questions about the contest, email us at yearofbooks@betterworldbooks.com.

**UPDATE**
Here are some answers to questions people have been asking about the Year of Books drawing.

Q: Can I participate if I’m not in the U.S.?
A: Absolutely.  We ship to anywhere in the world.  Just remember that shipping is free in the U.S., and $3.97 per book outside the U.S.  The gift certificates the winner will receive are for $20 each month, so be sure to take that into account when ordering.

Q: Can I tweet more than once?
A: You can tweet the message up to once per day through August 7th.  Since we’re selecting a winner randomly, two tweets gives you better chances than one tweet.  But don’t go over your once-a-day limit, or your friends will throw tomatoes at you.

Q: How can I enter if I don’t use Twitter?
A: Twitterphobia is a common affliction that affects many internet users.  Symptoms include headaches, heavy sighs, shaking your fist in the air, and not knowing when your friends are eating lunch / walking their dogs / watching TV.  A known cure for this malady is to go to http://www.twitter.com and spend 2 minutes creating an account, then referring to the instructions at the top of this blog post.  However, those diagnosed with Terminal Twitterphobia should keep watching www.BetterWorldBooks.com for upcoming promotions in the near future! (*Cough-cough*-earlyseptember-*cough*)

Q: How will I know if I win?
A: If you’ve been randomly picked as the winner, we’ll send you a Direct Message via Twitter.  (Make sure you’ve Followed @BWBooks so we can message you.)

Q: Can I buy your sweet T-shirts from the site?
A: Not yet.  But stay tuned, we’re working on that.

Q: I was already following you on Twitter.  I still qualify for this contest, right?
A: Of course!

Q: Do I have to use my BetterWorldBooks.com info on Twitter so you know who I am?
A: Nope!  We’ll Direct Message the winner via Twitter to get their info.

Q: Can I Tweet whatever I want and still qualify for the drawing?
A: No, you’ll have to post the exact message at the top of this post to be entered into the drawing.

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