Donate Books

We can always use books. If you are cleaning your book shelves or attic, contact us! We have a special need for board books (chunky books for the pre-readers,) manga & graphic novels for teens, Step-Into-Reading children’s books, young adult chapter books, and Spanish language books for all ages. We welcome gently used or new books. Books can be donated during WBRP building hours. 

 

Host a Book Drive

If you are interested in hosting a book drive through your workplace or volunteer organization, we can supply an informational brochure and any other advertising material you might need. Bobzbay is always happy to acquire books for the Book Bike to distribute!
Contact Karen at karen61701@gmail.com.

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Ride the Bike

We can always use riders - it is an energizing workout! Take the Book Bike out to a park or event for the afternoon. We will give you a short tutorial on riding the Bike and working with people of all ages who want books from the Bike. If you want only to ride it or to staff it, we will work with you.

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Assist with Book Inventory

We have a storage unit on West Oakland, courtesy of Brad Butzirus. A few times a year, we inventory and sort these books, and can use extra hands. If you are a book lover, this is an important and satisfying job.

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Why does the Book Bike matter?

Research repeatedly demonstrates that if children are not reading well by third grade, their chances for success later in life are diminished.  I have had quite a few Teachers often say Thank You for the Book Bike. They all relate the same basic story: in their classrooms, when they assign a book report, they will tell their students, "I don't care what book you choose. Choose a book that you enjoy. You can pick one from home." Too many times, these teachers tell me, the students will say "We don't have books in our home." For many of us, it’s hard to imagine a home without books. So every time a child or an adult goes home with a free book that they now own, we just tipped the scales a little bit in the right direction.

 

Early on in the history of the book bike, we attended a neighborhood block party where school supplies were being given away.  A  young Hispanic girl came up to the Bike with her mom and asked if I had any children’s books in Spanish. I did not. She looked so disappointed and told me she wanted a book that her mom could read to her. Wow! I'm a mom and I treasure the hours I spent reading to my sons. Again, tipping the scales in the right direction... We have Spanish books now, though never enough!