NEW YORK, NY, July 25, 2016 -- After raising over 70,000 books for children since 2008, Bring on the Books (BOB), a student-run, literacy-based nonprofit, is proud to announce the beta launch of a mobile app that empowers individuals to contribute to their local communities by recycling gently-used books to low-income families. In tandem with this launch, BOB is working with the Libraries in Shelters Initiative through the Office for Renewal Schools, a branch within the NYC Department of Education, to reroute children’s books to local NYC shelters.
“We’re not only excited to provide access to literacy, but we’re also excited to be doing so while empowering individuals to make a tangible difference in their local communities,” says Hediya Sizar, the co-founder and current Executive Director of BOB. Hediya has recognized that after running the organization for eight years that the impact driven by traditional non-profit scale was not enough and that this app is the solution to lower the access-to-books gap between high and low-income families across the United States.
From July 18 to August 22, the app’s database will feature local NYC shelters that are part of the Libraries in Shelters initiative, co-hosted by the Office for Renewal Schools. According to a user’s location, the cloud-based app will search its database for the nearest libraries, schools, and/or nonprofits that accept the registered book. After selecting a donation site, the app will prompt the user to schedule a drop-off time at the chosen organization.
Furthermore, BOB’s platform will enable a direct connection between individual and organization -- 100% of the books rerouted will directly reach people who need books. Instead of rerouting 70,000 books to children, they app has the potential to reroute even more books. This summer community members can provide books to children in shelters by downloading the beta app and participating in their summer book drive.
About Bring on the Books (BOB):
Founded in 2008, The Bring on the Books Foundation began as a local book drive at Pennsylvania’s Council Rock High School South. Since its humble origins, it has become an official nonprofit and has collected over 70,000 books at high school and college campuses in multiple states. BOB’s unwavering mission is to reroutes gently-used books by connecting people who have books to individuals who need them. The organization is now integrating technology with its work, and it firmly champions dedication and passion to its cause, as well as transparency in its collaboration.
From July 18 to August 22, the app’s database will feature local NYC shelters that are part of the Libraries in Shelters initiative, co-hosted by the Office for Renewal Schools. According to a user’s location, the cloud-based app will search its database for the nearest libraries, schools, and/or nonprofits that accept the registered book. After selecting a donation site, the app will prompt the user to schedule a drop-off time at the chosen organization.
Furthermore, BOB’s platform will enable a direct connection between individual and organization -- 100% of the books rerouted will directly reach people who need books. Instead of rerouting 70,000 books to children, they app has the potential to reroute even more books. This summer community members can provide books to children in shelters by downloading the beta app and participating in their summer book drive.
About Bring on the Books (BOB):
Founded in 2008, The Bring on the Books Foundation began as a local book drive at Pennsylvania’s Council Rock High School South. Since its humble origins, it has become an official nonprofit and has collected over 70,000 books at high school and college campuses in multiple states. BOB’s unwavering mission is to reroutes gently-used books by connecting people who have books to individuals who need them. The organization is now integrating technology with its work, and it firmly champions dedication and passion to its cause, as well as transparency in its collaboration.
