Half-Price Books Encourages Community to Donate Children's Books to Local Book Drive

    MADISON, WI, March 02, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Half Price Books, the nation's largest family-owned new and used bookstore chain, has launched its 13th annual Half Pint Library Book Drive which will benefit local children around the country. Now through March 31, Half Price Books stores will serve as drop-off sites to collect new and used children's books, and for the first time, Half Price Books will match each book donated with another book during the drive.

Each year, community members are encouraged to donate new and gently used children's books during the six week book drive. Half Price Books employees then sort through the books to make sure children will receive only quality new and used books. The drive accepts any type of children's book, including Spanish language books, as long as they are in good condition.

Shortly after the conclusion of the book drive "give-away" events will be held at various Half Price Books locations, and local non-profit groups will be invited to come and pick up books. Last year, nearly 200,000 books were donated nationwide.

"When finances are tight for families, books may not be a priority when people are trying to make ends meet," said Kathy Doyle Thomas, executive vice president of Half Price Books. "Every child deserves to read a book of their own and we are happy the Half Pint Library Book Drive will provide books to so many children in our communities."

In many cases, children are getting their first take-home book through the Half Pint Library program, which is an integral stepping stone for lifelong learning. Studies by the Institute of Education Sciences and related research show significant correlations between children's access to printed materials in the home and literacy, as well as performance in school.

For more information on the program, or to find a Half Price Books near you, please visit www.hpb.com.

About Half Pint Library
Half Pint Libraries were created to give children and their families the chance to read and share books while staying at pediatric clinics and community centers across the nation. All of the books collected during the 6-week drive will be donated to local non-profit and community organizations for children in the community. Everyone can donate new or gently used children's books at any Half Price Books location from February 14 to March 31. The drive accepts any type of children's book, including Spanish language books, as long as they are in good condition. Because of the generous donations from our community members, the Half Pint Library program has provided more than 2 million books nationwide for children to share and enjoy.

About Half Price Books
Half Price Books is the largest family-owned new and used bookstore chain, with 112 retail locations in 16 states. Stores are open seven days a week and buy and sell new and used books, magazines, comics, records, CDs, DVDs and collectible items. Half Price Books has been dedicated to environmental and literacy efforts for more than 35 years by supporting hundreds of projects including the annual Half Pint Library Book Drive, which provides hospitals, clinics and pediatric centers nationwide with book donations collected at all store locations. In addition, Half Price Books is a founding contributor to Laura Bush's National Book Festival, as well as a supporter of the National Center for Family Literacy and Feed the Children. For more information about Half Price Books, please visit www.hpb.com.

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