EDIBURGH, UK – (February 13, 2015) HMP Edinburgh has just taken delivery of 6,000 books donated by Dunfermline based Better World Books. This socially responsible organisation collects and sells books online with each sale generating funds for literacy.

The initiative was prompted by Better World Books following discussions with one of their literacy partners, Scottish Book Trust. Speaking of the project, Martin Mullin, Head of Acquisitions UK from Better World Books said, “As a global business we have now donated more than 15 million books. Being based here in Scotland gives us the opportunity to make a real difference to literacy locally. We’re really pleased to be able to donate these books to HMP Edinburgh and to learn more about literacy developments there.”

This wide range of adult fiction and non-fiction titles will be delivered by Junk Ants Ltd and sorted into equal portions for further distribution to all 15 establishments across the Scottish prison estate.

James King, Head of Offender Learning for the SPS stated that “This generous donation by Better World Books will significantly increase the stock capacity at each prison library across the estate improving the range of reading choice and helping to further support a range of on-going initiatives to support literacy development.”

Within HMP Edinburgh, the library is operated as a joint venture between the establishment and City of Edinburgh Libraries. In welcoming the initiative, Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture and Sport Convener for City of Edinburgh Council, said: “This generous donation will go a long way to supporting the valuable initiatives carried out by HMP Edinburgh Library to tackle low literacy levels. These initiatives are clearly having a positive effect, working towards reducing re-offending levels and improving chances of employment and we should applaud this good work.”

ABOUT BETTER WORLD BOOKS

Better World Books (www.BetterWorldBooks.co.uk) is a for-profit social enterprise and a global e-retailer providing products and information to socially conscious consumers. Better World Books collects and sells new and used books online matching each purchase with a donation, book for book, and with each sale generating funds for literacy initiatives in the UK and around the world. Since its founding in 2003, the company has raised more than £12 million for libraries and literacy, donated more than 15 million books, re-used or recycled 153 million books, and achieved 44,000 tons of carbon offsets through carbon balanced shipping, with facilities in Atlanta, Mishawaka (US), and Dunfermline (UK).