Better World Books
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| URL | http://www.betterworldbooks.com/ |
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| Commercial? | Yes |
| Type of site | B Corporation Social business |
| Available language(s) | Multilingual |
Better World Books is a U.S.-based online bookseller. Described as a for-profit social enterprise or social business venture, Better World Books claim they measure success through a triple bottom line, considering economic, environmental and social factors. They are a founding B corporation,[1] aiming to "create benefit all stakeholders, not just shareholders."[2] The Better World Books mission statement is “to capitalize on the value of the book to fund and support literacy initiatives locally, nationally, and around the world.”[3] They raise funding for over 80 non-profit literacy programs.[4]
They have re-used or recycled over 65 million books and raised over US$10 million for literacy (over US$5 million for non-profit literacy programs and over US$3.6 million for libraries) and over US$1.8 million for student groups. Better World Books partners with over 1,800 college campuses and with over 3,400 library systems in the U.S., Canada, UK, and Ireland.[4]
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[edit] History
In May 2002, three University of Notre Dame graduates led a book drive to help the Robinson Community Learning Center in South Bend, Indiana, USA. The founders won the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business top prize for social entrepreneurship - the McCloskey Social Venture Business Plan competition. They used the momentum to expand book drives beyond the Midwest. As of January 2001, the Campus Division of Better World Books works with students and bookstore managers to lead book drives at over 1800 college and university campuses across North America; the Library Division works with over 2000 libraries, collecting discards and unwanted donations.[4]
[edit] Partners
Better World Books raises money for non-profit organizations.[5] The corporation is structured to protect the interests of its non-profit partners should it be acquired.[6] The main charities Better World Books donates to are:
- Books for Africa– the largest shipper of donated books to the African continent – since 1988, shipped over 22 million books to 45 African countries
- Room to Read– supports the construction of schools, libraries & language labs, publishes local-language children’s books and funds long-term scholarships for young girls in South Asia & Africa
- National Center for Family Literacy– Whose mission is to create a literate nation by leveraging the power of the family, which includes training more than 150,000 teachers and thousands of other volunteers
- Worldfund in Latin America - supports high-quality education for impoverished children in Latin America. Since its inception in 2000, Room to Read has impacted the lives of over 1.7 million children
- Invisible Children - improves the quality of life for war-affected children by providing access to quality education, enhanced learning environments and innovative economic opportunities for the community
- Robinson Community Learning Center in South Bend, Indiana
- Prison Book Program in Quincy, Massachusetts
Better World Books is now also a Book for Book™ company. Each book purchase on *Better World Books and www.betterworldbooks.co.uk powers a donation from the company to someone in need via either Feed The Children or Books for Africa.
[edit] Online sales
Better World Books sells collected books through 23 online marketplaces, including Amazon.com,[7] Ebay,[8] and their own online e-commerce site, betterworldbooks.com.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Fast Company Profile: 45 Social Entrepreneurs who are changing the world
- ^ B Corporation Website: About Us
- ^ Better World Books promotional literature
- ^ a b c Better World Books, Impact
- ^ Better World Books - Impact
- ^ Jones, Kevin (2009). "Mission Insurance: How to Structure a Social Enterprise So Its Social and Environmental Goals Survive Into the Future". Community Development Investment Review (Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco) 5 (2): 1–6. http://www.frbsf.org/publications/community/review/vol5_issue2/jones.pdf. Retrieved November 14, 2011.
- ^ Amazon.com page
- ^ ebay.com page
[edit] External links
- Better World Books Official site
- BWB & BWB's Response NACS article
- Discussing BWB's Inventory Acquisition Methodology Bookfinder.com - Journal Posting
- Megalister Discussion IOBA Newsletter, Vol. VII, Nr. 2, Fall 2006 (IOBA = Independent Online Booksellers Association )
- "New Ways to Do It Make Giving Away Books a Bit Less Painful" New York Times
- "Building a better world a book at a time" CNN.com
- {http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/print-edition/2011/08/19/doing-good-doing-well.html "Doing Good, Doing Well"} Atlanta Business Chronicle
- {http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristi-york-wooten/love-to-read-help-kids-wh_b_927110.html "Can Buying a Book Help Kids and the Environment?"} Huffington Post
