TIP #4: Offer professors and departments an office clean out service!

Students are not the only people on campus with books; Professors and faculty are often sent sample copies all throughout the year, and there are many offices that are just overflowing with books. Most faculty would love the chance the de-clutter their office, support a good cause, and help with your group's fundraising efforts. You have heard of a car wash fundraiser; offer your campus an Office Wash fundraiser.

BOOK DRIVES THAT COLLECT BOOKS FROM OFFICES AND DEPARTMENTS INCREASE THEIR BOOKS BY 50%!

• Send out a mass email or get a blurb in the campus newsletter alerting all faculty on campus of your "office wash" opportunity.
• Put collection bins in major buildings in easy to reach places.
• Offer a door to door service to come by and do pickups from any office or department that wishes to donate.

For some of you finals just ended; for others, finals are just around the corner.  In either case, I hope your book collection is in full swing.

And now, the moment you have been waiting for, tip #3.

TIP #3:  CAPITALIZE ON END OF YEAR MOVE OUT!

Yes, the prime place to collect books is near or in the bookstore, to get every book that the bookstore cannot buy back.  However, there are many books that just do not make it to the buyback that still get dumped in the trash when people clean out their rooms.

BOOK DRIVES THAT COORDINATE WITH THE END OF SEMESTER MOVE OUT HAVE INCREASED THEIR BOOKS BY 40%!

• Forge an alliance with the Residence Halls, their directors, managers and RA's.  No one really wants to see books get thrown away.  Some schools have had a lot of success having the RA's have one final event for their students, which floor or which hall can accumulate the most books?
• Reach out to Greek houses, Co-ops, or any other off campus housing properties; these areas are often neglected, but think about it: that senior moving out of his or her apartment for the last time probably has a lot of books they accumulated that they really are not going to want to lug around.  Make it easy for them to donate to your book drive.
• Contact your campus building services or facilities departments;  if books tragically do end up in the trash,  these departments are often burdened with hauling them around campus to their eventual demise at a recycling center or sadly, a landfill.  They would gladly give books over to your book drive.

• Create a facebook event and invite EVERYONE;  here is an example I just made that you can copy: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=16553624047&ref=share  Make sure you  include details about where and when people can donate on your campus!  
• Get the student newspaper to write an article about the amazing book drive project you are coordinating.
• Tell all your friends. (and have them tell their friends.  And their friends' friends.  Eventually, your friends' friends' friends will come congratulate you on your book drive)
• Ask your professors to make announcements in classes.
• See if campus radio will make an announcement for you
• Competition: I can provide you with details on how your biggest rival schools are doing with their book collection efforts.  Sometimes, the best way to bring your campus together for one great event is by sticking it to your rival...
  

Hopefully, these strategies can ensure that everyone on campus knows to give their extra books to your book drive.  And remember, our Campus Acquisitions Team is here to make it as easy as possible for you to collect as many books as possible on your campus.  Please feel free to contact us any time.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for Tip #3.

BOOST BOOK DRIVE PERFORMANCE MORE THAN 20%:

It’s true!  Book Drives that include the Campus Library often increase the number of accepted books collected by more than 20%.

• Obtain permission from the library administration
• Order extra collection bins from your BWB representative
• Check and empty the bins regularly
• Sort the books according to the Qualifying Books document provided by your BWB representative
• As a nice gesture, at the conclusion of the drive, send a handwritten “thank you” to the library administration thanking them for their support of the book drive
  

So, if you are looking for a way to increase the number of accepted books you collect this spring, contact your Campus Library and see if they will allow you to set up a collection box—it’ll be worth the extra effort.  And remember, our Campus Acquisitions Team is here to make it as easy as possible for you to collect as many books as possible on your campus.  Please feel free to contact us any time.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for Tip #2.