Book Drive Organizer [VOLUNTEER - NORTH AMERICA ONLY]

Company Description

The African Library Project changes lives book by book by starting libraries in rural Africa.  Our grassroots approach mobilizes North American volunteers to organize book drives and ship books to a partner library in Africa. ALP libraries makes a concrete and personal difference for children.

We work with our African partners to create small sustainable libraries in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa and Uganda.

Our model provides many benefits for the volunteers, e.g., leadership opportunities, recycling of books. This model is scalable and, while already making a significant difference, it has the potential to do much more.

Since 2005, the African Library Project has worked with volunteers in the U.S. and Canada to collect 4 million books and start 3,000+ libraries. 

Job Description

Volunteer Book Drive Organizers from the USA or Canada sort, pack, and ship 1,000 gently used children's books and raise US $650* to ship the books (domestic and international). *$250 for international shipping and the remaining is approximately $400 for domestic shipping via USPS media mail to New Orleans, LA where books are packed into a sea container and shipped. Domestic shipping does vary.

Book drives are matched with a school or community that has requested books for a library and agreed to provide a place for the library and librarians to run it. Books ranging from preschool through 8th grade reading level are requested. Book drives usually last 6-8 weeks. You can find guidelines and resources for book drives on our website. Just copy and paste this link: https://https://www.africanlibraryproject.org/book-drives/

How do we match the book drives and ensure the books arrive? ALP works with African-based organizations that collect and vet library applications. These organizations also receive the container in the country and distribute the libraries, and provide librarian training.

Some of our Book Drive Organizers have had so much fun they want to do more than one book drive. And some enjoy the experience as a one-time volunteer opportunity. It is entirely up to you on how many book drives you decide to commit to. 

 

 

Qualifications

Work with a school, religious organization, company, youth club, your family or by yourself. Anyone at any age can do it. Person must be able to lift 30 - 40 lbs.

Book Drive Organizers are responsible for raising funds for shipping the books. You can find complete guidelines in the Book Drives section of our website by clicking on Start a Book Drive. 

Additional Information

You can do a book drive from anywhere in North America! Help bring the literacy rates up on the African continent!