Better World Books
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Better World Books is a U.S. based online book seller. Described as a for-profit "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 collected over 24 million books, raised over US$3.6 million for non-profit literacy programs, US$2.9 million for libraries and US$1.4 million for student groups.[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 June 2008, the Campus Division of Better World Books works with students and bookstore managers to lead book drives at over 1,800 college and university campuses across North America; the Library Division works with over 1800 libraries, collecting discards and unwanted donations.[4]
[edit] Partners
Better World Books raises money for non-profit organizations.[5] 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 20 million books to 37+ 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, IN
- Prison Book Program in Quincy, MA
[edit] Online sales
Better World Books sells collected books through 19 online marketplaces, including Amazon.com,[6] Ebay,[7] and their own online e-commerce site, betterworldbooks.com.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Fast Company Profile: 45 Social Entrepreneurs who are changing the world. [1]
- ^ B Corporation Website: About Us. http://www.bcorporation.net/about/
- ^ Better World Books promotional literature
- ^ a b c Better World Books, Impact. http://www.betterworldbooks.com/Info-Our-Impact-m-51.aspx
- ^ Better World Books - Impact
- ^ Amazon.com page
- ^ ebay.com page
[edit] External links
- Better World Books - Official Site
- NACS article about BWB& BWB's Repsonse
- Bookfinder.com - Journal Posting (Discussing BWB's Inventory Acquisition Methodology)
- IOBA Newsletter, Vol. VII, Nr. 2, Fall 2006, Megalister Discussion (IOBA = Independent Online Booksellers Association )
- New York Times - "New Ways to Do It Make Giving Away Books a Bit Less Painful"
- CNN.com - "Building better world a book at a time"
