2009 Holiday Book Drive:  Spreading Joy with 1.1 Million Books

Thanks to our enthusiastic booksellers and generous customers, the Barnes & Noble 2009 Holiday Book Drive was another great success, as we collected more than 1.1 million books for children in need. 

As in past years, our stores selected the recipient organizations in their communities to donate the books to, ranging from Reach Out and Read and Boys & Girls Clubs of America to local children’s hospitals and other local non-profit organizations.  Additionally, on a national level, our company donated 150,000 books to the New Orleans School District through Reader to Reader, Inc., a non-profit organization that distributes books to schools and libraries in need, and 50,000 books to Toys For Tots.

The Holiday Book Drive always generates heart-warming stories in our communities, and this year was no exception.  For example, representatives from our Kennewick, MA, store were invited to attend a winter assembly at a local elementary school to surprise each student with a new book.  The store collected close to 2,000 books to be given to the students, many of whom had never owned their own book before.  Community Relations Manager Michelle Price says, “As I made the announcement, the cheering from everyone in the school brought tears to my eyes.  I am so proud to work for a company that makes an impact on our community.”

Our Ridgeland, MS, store collected more than 6,000 books for Reach Out and Read at the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children.  The store found the perfect prescription for a successful Holiday Book Drive – having the doctors host Storytime and read to patients (pictured).  Community Relations Manager Lindsay Jarman notes, “We love the Reach Out and Read program because we are not just putting books on shelves, we are changing lives.  The doctors give the books to all children at every visit to the hospital or clinics.  They are making literacy part of a healthy childhood experience.”

“The Barnes & Noble Holiday Book Drive could not succeed without the passion of our booksellers and generosity of our customers,” adds Sarah DiFrancesco, director of community relations.  “This is a holiday tradition for us and a great opportunity for our stores and customers to come together to donate new books for children in the community who really need them.”

For additional information, view our press release.

Photos: (Top) Students from the Robert K. Fulton School pick out two books each while the remaining books collected by the Woodmere, OH, store went toward the school's library.  (Bottom) The Ridgeland, MS, store collected books for Reach Out and Read at Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children.  Doctors from the hospital participated in Storytimes with their young patients.