A number of constituents have been contacting me after I hosted a parliamentary launch for Book Aid international, an organisation which works in 18 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and Palestine, providing books and journals to libraries, hospitals, refugee camps and schools
.
Constituents have been asking about how they can give their old books to Book Aid. Book Aid does accept donations, but because they already receive a lot of support from publishers and other organisations, they only accept second hand books in a few subject areas.

Book Aid say that:
“We need material in the following areas of particularly high demand:
·       reference material - books, encyclopedias and atlases
·       vocational material - for instance woodwork, metalwork, pattern cutting and technical drawing

All books must have been published in the last five years and be in 'good as new' condition.

The second exception relates to the fundraising event Bring a Book to Work Week. Thousands of employees are taking part in this special initiative and we are accepting their donations of adult fiction to meet the reading and learning needs of our beneficiaries in Africa.

All book deliveries need to come to our Camberwell warehouse which is open during office hours, Monday to Friday:

Book Aid International
39-41 Coldharbour Lane
London SE5 9NR

Please securely box up all donations and include your name and address so we know who to thank!”

Of course Book Aid also accept financial donations, and run a reverse book token scheme, which means you give the gift of a token and people in the developing world receive the books. More details at www.bookaid.org.

©John Battle MP 06 November 2006