Kayla Carpenter
krcarpen@go.olemiss.edu
UM Library Ambassadors is working with Worldwide Book Drive to collect books through the semester, including two events during finals week.
The University of Mississippi Library Ambassadors are teaming up with Worldwide Book Drive for a semester-long book drive.
Of the multiple events hosted throughout the semester by the Ambassadors, the textbook drive is one of the biggest and will be a continuing project.
“Worldwide contacted me because they heard about what we were doing with this group and how it was really big on our campus,” Library Ambassadors adviser Amy Mark said.
“They provide free shipping (to Worldwide) and help us keep up with how many books count for the fundraising.”
Worldwide Book Drive will pay $1 to the Library Ambassadors for each book that is less than 5 years old, and the money will fund additional programs for the group.
There are currently several bins around campus for students to drop off books.
“There are bins located in the Union, in the library and by Starbucks,” Mark said.
“Although our emphasis is on textbooks, we take any kind of books, so students can get rid of those books that they don’t need anymore.”
According to its website, Worldwide Book Drive is a social venture, not a nonprofit organization. This is not the first time the group has worked with the organization.
“Last semester we did a book drive through this organization to benefit (the) American Association (of) University Women in order to help women in need, and they assisted in fundraising for that book drive,” junior criminal justice major Austin Sigl said.
“It was really successful, so we decided to do it again.”
During the last few weeks of school, including finals week, the Library Ambassadors expect donations to increase.
“During finals week, when students are selling back their books, we want to encourage them to donate textbooks that may be outdated or that they do not need,” Sigl said.
“We will have a table set up outside of the Union.”
The group also encourages teachers to donate old textbooks that they do not use in class anymore.
“Students can help by offering to carry the books from the professors to put in the library donation bin,” Mark said.
The ambassadors will be collecting books at two events during finals week. They will host a pet-a-pup day and a game night.
“I encourage anyone interested in the library to join our group,” Mark said.
The group is open to both graduate and undergraduate students.
