Better World Books
Encyclopedia
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, aiming to "create benefit all stakeholders, not just shareholders." 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.” They raise funding for over 80 non-profit literacy programs.
They have re-used or recycled over 40 million books and raised over US$9 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.
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 201, 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.
, Ebay
, and their own online e-commerce site, betterworldbooks.com.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
-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
Triple bottom line
The triple bottom line captures an expanded spectrum of values and criteria for measuring organizational success: economic, ecological, and social...
, considering economic, environmental and social factors. They are a founding B corporation, aiming to "create benefit all stakeholders, not just shareholders." 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.” They raise funding for over 80 non-profit literacy programs.
They have re-used or recycled over 40 million books and raised over US$9 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.
History
In May 2002, three University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
graduates led a book drive to help the Robinson Community Learning Center in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
, 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 201, 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.
Partners
Better World Books raises money for non-profit organizations. The corporation is structured to protect the interests of its non-profit partners should it be acquired. The main charities Better World Books donates to are:- Books for AfricaBooks for AfricaBooks For Africa is a 501 nonprofit organization dedicated to collecting, sorting, shipping, and distributing books to children and adults in Africa. With headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA, and warehouses in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Atlanta, Georgia, BFA's goal is to end the book famine in...
– the largest shipper of donated books to the African continent – since 1988, shipped over 22 million books to 45 African countries - Room to ReadRoom to ReadRoom to Read is an international non-profit organization with its global headquarters in San Francisco, California. Founded on the belief that World Change Starts With Educated Children, the organization focuses on literacy and gender equality in education...
– 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 LiteracyNational Center for Family LiteracyThe National Center for Family Literacy is an organization set up to create educational and economic opportunity for the most at-risk children and parents in the United States.-Background:...
– 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 - WorldfundWorldfundWorldfund is a non-profit organization, founded in 2002. It provides grants and technical assistance to Latin America's poor to improve English literacy in schools and educational programs...
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 ChildrenInvisible ChildrenInvisible Children: Rough Cut is a 2003 American documentary film. Its subject is the abduction and forced enlistment of children by the sectarian Lord's Resistance Army in Uganda.-Synopsis:...
- 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
Online sales
Better World Books sells collected books through 23 online marketplaces, including Amazon.comAmazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
, Ebay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
, and their own online e-commerce site, betterworldbooks.com.
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