In 2008, Better World Books piloted The Great American Book Drive in New York, Boston and Chicago. Communities came together for fun events and collected over 60,000 books for great local and national causes.

NEW YORK: COMMUNITY CELEBRATION
Set on 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn Public Library launched the first ever Great American Book Drive, which included a band, balloons, book sale, face painting, and of course, lots of book donations – about 15,000! A celebration of the library, reuse, and the onset of Fall, the book drive was a welcome event for Brooklynites eager to free up space in their cramped apartments and homes. Many shoppers from the neighboring green market stopped by to listen to the band and often returned with a box of books. Over 700 books were sold on site at the accompanying book sale.

CHIGAGO: DRIVE-THRU BOOK DRIVE
Open Books kicked off the Great American Book Drive in Chicago by hosting the first ever drive-thru book drive. After pulling up to an unloading zone, all that was required of donors was to scribble their contact information onto clipboards while volunteers efficiently emptied their back seats and trunks of books. Several sponsors contributed to Open Books success. Using trucks and cars supplied by Zip Car, volunteers completed 50 home pickups and in store and email promotion by Whole Foods and Sittercity resulted in over 25,000 books!

BOSTON: PARTNERSHIPS & PRE-DRIVES
Collect early and often is becoming the slogan of the Prison Book Program and City Mission Society of Boston. Having experimented with a book drive in the fall of 2007, they joined forces again in 2008 on The Great American Book Drive and are perfecting the art of the pre-drive. By partnering with local congregations that accept book donations several weeks in advance of the main event, they have developed a group of supporters that now look forward to the fall drive. Inspired by the belief that books open doors, Prison Book Program will send several thousand of the 21,000 books donated to prisoners and the two organizations will split the proceeds generated from the sale of the remaining items. Look for repeat performances of these fabulous events in 2009, with even more cities getting on board and visit www.greatamericanbookdrive.com for more information!