Global Bookseller’s Donation Expands Teen Collection at Dover’s Library

CONTACT
Deb Sullivan                                                          
Community Relations Director                            
York County Libraries                                                       
159 E. Market Street                                              
York, PA 17401                                                               
[email protected]                                   
(717) 849-6931                                                         

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                               
March 25, 2022

DOVER, PA – The book collection for teens at Dover Area Community Library has expanded thanks to a $2,500 literacy grant from global bookseller, Better World Books. The funds enabled the library to add over 250 books to its collection for teens, along with 40 new titles for elementary school age members. The new teen fiction, non-fiction, graphic novels, and Manga are on the shelves now and available to browse and check out. Members can also borrow them from anywhere in York County by placing a hold through the yorklibraries.org catalog.

“These projects are critical in making a difference in people’s lives. Every day, we see the power of the book,” says Martin Mullin, Senior Director of Global Sales for Better World Books. “We now know more than ever how books continue to have a sustained positive impact in our lives, and that has been absolutely reaffirmed through the pandemic.”

According to Mullin, the company wanted to make a deeper connection in the communities where their employees live, shop, and read. So, last year, the company altered its annual grant process and asked employees at their four locations to nominate organizations that make a difference in literacy. Elly Santiago, who nominated the Dover Area Community Library, shared, “I nominated the Dover Area Community Library because it is a small library in my community that struggled when the pandemic began. Even through the pandemic, they managed to organize used book sales and reach out to readers in the community to make sure they had books to help them through the quarantine. When I saw the opportunity for the grant, I thought they were a perfect choice.”

Better World Books has been operating in York since 2018. In addition to their donation to Dover, employees also awarded an additional $2,500 to support collections at Martin Library and York County Libraries. According to York County Libraries Development Director Janine Pflaum, materials purchased through these funds are also available for loan countywide. Teens can request the titles they want to pick up at their local library.

“Community members have asked for more programs and resources specifically for teens,” says York County Libraries President Robert F. Lambert. “While we are actively creating welcoming spaces for teens at our libraries, Better World Books’ support is playing a valuable role in adding physical collections for our youth to enjoy countywide.”

Dover Area Community Library is located at 3700-3 Davidsburg Road in Dover and is open on Monday from 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., and is closed on Sunday. Masks are optional. Community members with questions should call the library at (717) 292-6814.

Dover Area Community Library is a branch of York County Libraries, which includes 13 libraries that provide the latest in print and digital information, best sellers, Wi-Fi, digital story times, book discussions, and 80 databases. Their extensive collection of 700,000 items includes over 80,000 digital library materials for loan. All are available for free with a York County Libraries card.

About Better World Books
Better World Books (https://www.BetterWorldBooks.com) is a for-profit, socially conscious business and a global online bookseller that collects and sells new and used books online, matching each purchase with a book donation. Each sale generates funds for literacy and education initiatives in the U.S., the UK, and around the world. Since its launch in 2003, Better World Books has raised more than $33 million for libraries and literacy, donated over 32 million books, and reused or recycled more than 394 million books. The awarded grants were made possible by the Better World Books General Literacy Fund that underwrites the donation initiatives of Better World Books. This fund, supported by global library clients, allows libraries to support libraries and to increase their impact through Better World Books partnerships. For more information about Better World Books, contact Michael Kappes, Senior Manager, Marketing, eCommerce, and Customer Experience, at [email protected] or at (574) 334-5826.

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Caption:

Elly Santiago is part of the Better World Books York team and nominated Dover Area Community Library for the grant.

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