What We Do
Lending Libraries
Lending Libraries
Lending Libraries
We build lending libraries. The greatest predictor of literacy for children living in poverty is the quality of their school library. Lending libraries allow children to bring books home to share with their families. Lending Libraries are filled with high-interest books specifically curated for each community. A recent project is Braddock Drive Elementary.
Giveaway Library
Lending Libraries
Lending Libraries
We donate books to children in underserved communities with no stings attached. Readers get to select their own books. Representative organizations include The Book Truck and Jewish Family Services.
Book Distribution
Lending Libraries
Book Distribution
We give bags of books sorted by grade level and gender. These books are distributed to children when they come for food distribution during the pandemic. We recently completed a similar project for Para Los Ninos.
Free Book Fair
TextBook Recycle
Book Distribution
We prepare book fairs for elementary aged kids using donated high interest books. Choosing a book gives children a sense of agency and pride.
Technical Help
TextBook Recycle
TextBook Recycle
We help nonprofits with social media, remote training, marketing, and online fundraising. Representative organizations include Neighbor2Neighbor and National Charity League, LA.
TextBook Recycle
TextBook Recycle
TextBook Recycle
Each year people throw away thousands of textbooks. We are looking for an environmental ambassador to work with schools to run textbook recycling drives at the same time as textbook buybacks. We hope to minimize the number of books in landfills. Interesting article about creative garbage man who took on the same issue.
Impact Research
Impact Research
Impact Research
We ask recipients to complete surveys about the impact of our donations. We will be updating this section and adjusting our program accordingly. We hope schools can use results to apply for grants and funding.
How to library donations
collect
remove all the books
remove all the books
It takes about about a month for us to collect enough books for a library. Often a large portion of the books are too matrue for elementary school libraries. We donate those books elsewhere.
remove all the books
remove all the books
remove all the books
Once we have ammassed enough books, we take them all out and see what we have. We quality control every book we donate.
sort by type
remove all the books
diverse titles and genres
Sorting by type/author makes it easy for libarians to shelve the books quickly so children can have immediate access.
diverse titles and genres
high-interest books and series
diverse titles and genres
We try to ensure that libraries have a broad range of topics and are from several genres.
high-interest books and series
high-interest books and series
high-interest books and series
We aim to give high interest books and books series to encourage readers to keep going. We often donate full sets.
Causes
Literacy
There is a literacy crisis around the world. According to UNESCO, approximately 750 million people are illiterate worldwide, 250 million are children. Low literacy prevents people from being productive members of society. You can have a positive impact by improving literacy in your own neighborhood or on a global scale. Bookworm Global has helped volunteers and nonprofits serve people in their neighborhoods and around the globe.
Education Equity
Eduction equity means that everyone should have the same rights, opportunities and resources for education. There is a huge gap in education and resources in the United States across socioeconomic status and race. The disparities negatively impacts everyone. These disparities are especially stark during the pandemic when millions of students dont have access to reliable internet at home. Physical books can play an important role in preventing students from educational backsliding.
Education Reform
Education reform is the goal of changing public education in the United States to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to be literate. The pandemic has increased the wide gap in education. We see incredible inequity in structured educational time and social-emotional support.
Environmental impact
Approximately 650,000 books are sent to landfills annually. Donating and distributing used books is a great way to ensure they stay out of landfills.
Understanding Philanthropy and Charity
Philanthropy Versus Charity
According to Laura Arrillaga-Andreesen, philanthropy and charity can be distinguished from one another. Charity is immediate aid given to those in need while philanthropy is defined as the active effort to promote human welfare. Philanthropy address the root problems whereas charity addresses an immediate need. By promoting literacy we are aiming to impact poverty and homelessness.
Acts of Service
Many community service activities are charitable acts. For example, donating food or clothing. You can make a broader impact by thinking philanthropically to create a difference in our world. Charitable acts for Bookworm Global are also philanthropic because they address some of the root causes of poverty.
Bookworm Global's Philanthropic Goal
Bookworm Global aims to motivate others to give time, skills and finances to make an impact on literacy worldwide. While many people imagine wealthy people when they think about philanthropy, anyone with generous intentions can be a philanthropist by donating their time to help solve systemic problems.