Public Administration and Policy (PADP) is happy to be supporting Books for Keeps (BFK) throughout the month of February. Since 2009, Books for Keeps has given more than half a million books to children from low-income families in grades Pre-K through 12. The books that they cannot use are sold at an annual BFK Book Sale every August.

The work BFK does helps children obtain books when even the library is not an option for reasons related to geography, transportation, or something as simple as an inability to pay fines for lost books. This nonprofit also helps to end “summer slide,” the learning loss suffered by many children when they are away from school. Children from low-income families are disproportionately affected by this loss, often due to a simple lack of access to books. Books for Keeps bridges the gap by giving them books – high-quality, exciting books with contemporary titles.

Books for Keeps’ primary program is a research-based. They are building on a strong foundation of research and use testing data from the schools they serve. They also work researchers from The University of Georgia.

Through the end of February PADP will be collecting books to be donated to Books for Keeps. Please drop off your gently used books in or office at Baldwin Hall 204, now through February 28. You can find a list of the most desired books here. BFK is always in need of books for Pre-K through 12, but will take any books you are able to donate. There are more ways to help out. Please consider volunteering, donating books, donating funds, becoming a sponsor, hosting a book drive, or just spreading the word. Want to donate on your own? You can find a list of BFK drop-off locations here.

Please also take a few moments to check out the Books for Keeps website and learn more about their program, their research, and how they are helping the Athens community.