What We Do: Books for International Development

Access to good quality, contemporary textbooks is critical for education and professional development in all areas, including the chemical sciences, but university libraries in LMICs often lack a stock of suitable materials due to the high costs of purchasing and shipping. Aided by student volunteers, IOCD established a programme at the University of Millersville, USA, to collect good quality textbooks (across all disciplines) donated by libraries and private sector companies.

The goal of this project is to provide university-level books to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) around the world. Recent wars, natural disasters and continued poverty have created a need for new university libraries and holdings. Donated books will be shipped to the recipient country by large shipping container. Although science books are most requested, we will accept donations of any university-level books in other disciplines, which can be textbooks or others. Journals are also needed, but should cover some period of time no less than one year. Material donated should typically be no more than 15 years old and in very good condition. The project is sponsored by UNESCO, the International Organization of Chemical Sciences in Development (IOCD) and the State of Pennsylvania with cooperation and donations in kind from the World Bank and the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Millersville University.

Since 2003, at least 17 shipments of c. 7,000 kg each have been sorted, packaged, shipped and delivered to libraries in LMICs, including 10 countries in Africa and Asia (Angola, Bangladesh, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius, Pakistan, Swaziland and Vietnam). The Millersville group has also successfully arranged deliveries of functioning, used computers (24 per shipment) to 13 LMICs and of essential medical supplies to Haiti following the 2009 earthquake.

For more information, click here for our 2007 Annual Report (PowerPoint, 3.5 Mb). A shorter version of the Report is available here (PowerPoint, 1.7 Mb).

Books for International Development is a non-profit project designed to help LMICs establish an institution of higher learning through donations of university level books and other beneficial donations such as computers. The project receives donations on a regular basis and has many operations that are necessary for the successful continuation of this project. The project welcomes volunteer efforts that are directed to achieving the project's goal.

The following volunteer positions are available at the moment:

• book donation pick up
• book sorting by discipline
• book packaging and preparation for shipment
• inventory maintenance
• shipment loading and unloading
• advertising

Donations are tax-deductible. OCDI, a tax-exempt branch of IOCD is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Therefore, both monetary donations and the value of donated materials are tax-deductible. We can only accept donations of university level books. Although science books are most requested, we will accept donations of any university-level books in other disciplines, which can be textbooks or others. Journals are also needed, but should cover some period of time no less than one year. Material donated should typically be no more than 15 years old and in very good condition. Once donations have been received, we provide a letter of donation for tax purposes, stating the amount of materials or funds donated. The value of the books and journals is up to the donor to determine.

For donations and/or volunteer opportunities please contact:

Dr. M. James Cosentino
Millersville University
Office: Caputo Hall Rm. 117
Phone: (717) 872-3034
Fax: (717) 872-3905
Email: james.cosentino@millersville.edu

OR

Student Directors:
Nick Dower or Jose Pelliccia
(717) 872-3907

Donations can be mailed to:

Dr. M. James Cosentino
Director, Books for International Development
Department of Biology
Millersville University
Millersville, PA 17551
USA