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Hardships Cannot Keep this Cambodian 2nd Grader out of the Library

Posted by Erin on 03.08.2012 at 9:45 am

“I want to be a doctor, so that I can help people,“ says the bright, smiling second grader, Narin. “ I am working hard to get there and I am confident that I will be able to fulfill my dreams.” She says these things in Khmer, the language of Cambodia and also the familiar and frightening name of the Khmer Rouge.

From 1975-1979, the Khmer Rouge ruled Cambodia. They ruled by genocide, killing every educated person they could. You would even be killed if you wore glasses, because they assumed you knew how to read. The Khmer regime wanted to rebuild Cambodia as a completely agrarian society empty of books, schools and educational progress.

Just 30 years later, Cambodians like little Narin are falling in love with learning thanks in part to our partners at Room to Read.

Have your say » | Tagged Impact, Impact Vignette, Our Partners

Can One Parking Spot Help Change the World? We Think So.

Posted by Erin on 03.05.2012 at 9:50 am

Did you know that 2 billion pounds of books each year are sent to landfill? And that 30 million people (that’s 1 in 7 adults) are functionally illiterate.

We have a way to help decrease those numbers. It’s our Better World Books Drop Box program! The program is completely free and provides a much needed outlet for pre-loved books otherwise destined for landfill. Businesses and organizations that host a Drop box on their property raise funds for literacy and education in their community while bringing well-ready visitors to their property again and again.

Books brought to a host’s Drop Box are sorted by Better World Books. After sorting we ensure each book is put to its highest and best use. First we sell the books we can on betterworldbooks.com and 50+ online and offline marketplaces. Those that can’t be sold are donated. Those that can’t be donated are recycled.

A percentage of every book sold supports literacy and education. In addition, for every book sold on betterworldbooks.com one is donated, Book for Book™.

Better World Books programs, including our Community Drop Box program have collectively raised over $11 million dollars, donated over 6 million books, reused or recyled over 70 million books and provided over $200,000 in grants.

One parking spot can help change the world.

Read more…

4 Comments » | Tagged Company News, Impact, In the News, Social Enterprise

Giving the Gift of Reading on World Book Day

Posted by Erin on 03.01.2012 at 4:00 am

Post by Fiona Marshall, Customer Care, Quality Assurance Manager and Social Media Guru for Better World Books UK

When I was at primary school World Book Day was a highlight of the year. It was fun and engaging, and the brightly coloured illustrations captured our imaginations. It made reading and owning books desirable.

Have your say » | Tagged Book & Author News, holidays, Impact

Meet Jordan: A Dog Taught Him How to Read

Posted by Erin on 02.24.2012 at 9:20 am

Three years ago, Jordan Piper thought “reading was the hardest thing in the world.”

Today, his mom cannot get Jordan to put books down. He even reads while brushing his teeth, running errands with his family and with a flashlight under his sheets after bedtime.

So what flipped the switch for this young boy? A dog named Drew.

Thanks to a Better World Books grant to Intermountain Therapy Dogs R.E.A.D program, their local chapter of READing Paws was able to teach Jordan to read.

If it were not for you donating books to and buying books from Better World Books, Jordan and Drew may have never met and Jordan may be falling behind in elementary school. Thanks to you, however, Jordan and Drew are best friends and flourishing readers together! There are many more children out there – in the U.S and all over the world – who can benefit from reading with therapy dogs and every time you chose to shop with us, we can help more of them.

Did you know that dogs can help people learn to read? What do you think about that? Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the video and Jordan’s story below.

6 Comments » | Tagged Impact, Our Partners, Video Impact Story

Our mission: to end the book famine in Africa.

Posted by Erin on 02.15.2012 at 9:48 am

Guest post by Books for Africa’s Communications Specialist, Maggie Meyer

At Books For Africa, we take global literacy seriously. Since 1988, we have sent over 26 million books to 46 African countries, making us the world’s largest shipper of books to the African continent. We are committed to the idea that books are tools of literacy. These tools will build the foundation for economic development and a brighter future for a fast rising continent.

Have your say » | Tagged From our Friends, Impact, Our Partners

We’re Looking for the Top Chef, America’s Next Top Model, So You Think You Can Dance Winner of Libraries!

Posted by Erin on 02.09.2012 at 9:59 am

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.

What Grants are Available This Year for Libraries?
This year, $30,000 in funding is available; maximum grant amount per project is $15,000.

How Do We Win?

Projects should address the literacy needs of underserved populations in their community. Literacy needs are defined by broadly identifying, understanding, interpreting, creating, communicating, and computing information to live a more fulfilling and productive life.
Libraries may pitch only one project each, with a maximum award of $15,000. Please be sure to clearly outline the project elements that require the requested funds.
Projects that involve partnerships with local government agencies are highly encouraged.
Projects that will have a measurable and long term impact on an underserved population and will continue to operate after grant funds have been utilized will be looked upon favorably.
Better World Books looks forward to reviewing applications that bring a fresh and inspired approach to challenging issues.

When is the Deadline?
February 6th – Applications open.
April 9th – Applications due.
April 10-May 30 – Selection period.
May 31 – Winner announced!
June 2012 – Donations dispersed.

I’m Sold! How Do We Apply?
Go to www.betterworldbooks.com/librarygrants for more information and to download the application..

Please share this opportunity with all remarkable library partners and friends you know!

Have your say » | Tagged Company News, Contests, Impact, In the News, LEAP

No bathroom breaks: A day in the life of a teacher

Posted by Erin on 02.08.2012 at 9:24 am

My mom is an educator. Growing up, she always told me that she – and all my teachers – had eyes in their back of her head. She also said that she never had time to use the restroom, to each her lunch (or dinner for that matter), to check her email or voicemails, or even to take one of those deep yoga breaths she so loves.I tended to have a meaningful, teacher’s pet relationship with my teachers. I remember thinking they had plenty of time to eat lunch, use the toilet, chat with their fiances on the phone and play with us in sports after school. Apparently, I did not believe my mom and I also seriously took my sweet teachers for granted.

The past few months I have spent time in a diverse array of schools cross the country filming success stories of our non-profit partners empowering students, teachers and families through education. Everyone who meets me thinks I have this huge enthusiasm for life and a love for my work which gives me an immense amount of energy. Well friends, I am exhausted. These teachers work. so. hard. Read more…

10 Comments » | Tagged Flabbergasted, Impact

Meet Agnes: She Went From Hiding in the Jungle to Becoming an Accountant

Posted by Erin on 02.06.2012 at 4:21 pm

Try reading this short story and closing your eyes to think about it:

Imagine you are four years old. Your parents farm the food you eat every day. You sing songs and dance in joy around your fruitful village with your many siblings. Life is good.

Now you’re five years old. You just started primary school and are so excited to get a freshly pressed pink and blue uniform, books and a composition notepad. You walk home from school with a smile on your face. Your mother looks frightened. She stumbles through your sack of clothes and sends you off to sleep in the jungle. You are too scared to sleep.

For five years you walk to school, never getting a new book or uniform again. Each night you hide in the jungle, fearing that you will be kidnaped and forced to attack your family, become a sex slave or to do whatever the rebels ask of you. This is the only life you could ever see for yourself.

Fast forward ten more years. You are now 20 years old and you are about to graduate from University with a degree in Accounting. You have a fresh pressed uniform again, loads of books, and control of your future. Your life has completely changed.

What happened?

Watch Agnes’s story to find out.

4 Comments » | Tagged Impact, Our Partners, Video Impact Story

Meet Daniela: From a dust-covered face to a self-assured young girl

Posted by Erin on 01.25.2012 at 9:14 am

Six year old Daniela’s face never used to be clean. Her eyes seemed vacant and she rarely uttered a word. She only ever sketched single colored empty bubbles with the crayons and paper they gave her. Daniela had trouble concentrating and often sought refuge in “no puedo” (“I can’t do it”). When there were group activities she would wander off alone. Daniela spent her days wandering the streets of Quito, Ecaudor. She had no way to discover her own imagination and free her mind to the endless opportunities six-year-olds around the world should be granted. Daniela did not even have one book, let alone a chance to learn the fundamental skill of reading.

2 Comments » | Tagged Impact, Impact Vignette, LEAP

What he learned from an illiterate homeless man who became a NY Times bestselling author

Posted by Erin on 01.19.2012 at 12:56 pm

Last night 45 Better World Books staff, friends, family and fans gathered together at Atlanta’s City of Refuge. We served dinner to the women and children residents and also out on the streets of downtown Atlanta. After an eye-and-heart-opening shared experience, we ate together from the social enterprise kitchen at the shelter and discussed one of my favorite books (and true stories) “Same Kind of Different as Me”. You can view photos from the event on Facebook.

Below is a guest post by Ron Hall, Co-Author of “Same Kind of Different as Me” and “What Difference Do it Make?”

This is the season when most of the world is focused more on giving than receiving, on blessing or helping those who cannot help themselves. In an excerpt from our book What Difference Do It Make, I’d like to share a story that hopefully will bless you, the reader of this blog, about serving without judging.

After Denver and I struck up our unlikely friendship at the mission, we had a bargain. I was going to show him how to get along with the country-club set, and he was going to show me how to get along in the ‘hood. When Deborah first dragged me down to serve at the mission, my biggest worry was catching a disease or some kind of creepy-crawly infestation. But after a while, my heart toward the homeless softened up to the point where I actually started going out into the streets with Denver to reach out to the homeless. Read more…