Where could I find books that we could use to start a K-4 library for our school?
Gina from Toledo, Oh
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Try Goodwill or other thrift shops in the area. You may also see if you can post a wanted add in the local newspaper for free or low cost. Try hitting garage sales also.
You may also get a few books and contact the publisher (or web search) sometimes they will give good discounts for schools if you can prove that it is for a school and not persoanl.
Hi, Gina, the first place I would check is the local libraries. They are always buying new books and selling the old ones for a fraction of the cost (they might donate them to your library). You might also check with publishing houses online to see what prices are (check the books of children to find the publishing house).
There are also many programs that offer books for signing up for their program. In our state there is a program called Children's Way that teaches kid's online safety. Just for signing up our school was given $500 worth of books (it realy was only like 20 books). We used them as awards for the kids.
I'm assuming you are setting up a library for either a private or charter school as public schools would have funding. You could call the local school district or your state's office of education and see if they have any suggestions either. Good luck
a man around here goes to the local post offices and gets the book club books. i get some wonderful books from him. the book clubs dont want to pay for the books to be returned so the post office has to destroy or give away the books.
I would have the teachers at the school join the scholastic book club. They can send home flyers with the kids for the parents to purchase books for themselves or to donate to the library. Plus each book sold the teachers get points to receive free books.
I have helped get 2 Christian school libraries off the ground. First, let me say that as you go about this, it helps a lot if you have a copy of the schools tax exemt or 501C letter, and a letter on school letterhead stating you are really a volunteer or teacher with the school doing this project. Here are my suggestions:
1. As earlier suggested, have your teachers participate in the Scholastic bookclubs.
2. Contact your local library and local university library. We were allowed to go thru the books they were selling before the sale. One library gave them for free, the other charged us a nickle each.
3. Send letters to publishers asking for "seconds" on books. Most ignored us, a few sent us books.
4. Put an ad wanting free books on craigslist and freecycle.
5. Contact local businesses to see if you can set up boxes to collect books for a bookdrive.
6. Take advantage of the "free" fundraisers. Such as countrymart cards registered for your school, or collectig best choice upcs, box tops for education, campbells soup labels.
7. Contact your local clubs. We were well supported by the Lions Club and a few other clubs even though we were a Christian School.
8. If you are a private school, allow local homeschoolers to use your library. That will double (probably) the kids who can help collect books for you.
9. Have the classes have a book drive contest. Winning class gets pizza, or to throw a pie at the principal or some other prize
10. Contact your local radio and tv stations. Some states require they do a certain amount of nonpaid broadcasting for public awareness. They may advertise your book drive for free.
11. Contact your local bookstores. Ours was supposed to throw promotional books, movies and such away after a certain date, but they gave them to us instead.
12. Join Video Placement.com. Its free and a good way to build up videos.
13. Do your kids collect pennies?? Direct the penny (coin) collections to buy books.
14. Have kids bring a book instead of valentines.
Remember, your books don't have to be new. Once a book is read, its already used. Many ugly books can be repaired.
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