[Bookstoprisoners] Fwd: book donation

[Jay Schubert]

I'm putting this out to the list because it sounds like a huge opportunity
for us and I would like some feedback from the group about how to proceed.
I'm not very clear on what Gabe means about help sorting books (in the last
paragraph).

Please share your thoughts about how / if we can coordinate processing this
donation. I am able to contribute my garage as storage space, but I think my
capacity will be roughly 5-6000 books. Since we may have up to 10,000
available I would consider renting a u-haul one way.

Please share your thoughts / comments with the group. I would like to
respond to Gabe ASAP.

thanks,
Jay



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gabriel <gabriel at wethepeoplemedia.org>
Date: Sep 30, 2005 10:41 AM
Subject: RE: book donation
To: Jay Schubert <jay.schubert at gmail.com>

 Jay –

Sorry I overlooked your question about where I heard from you in the first
email. I have a coworker who worked with a similar organization in
Bloomington, Indiana who suggested I look for programs that send books to
prisoners near Chicago. I asked around and did a little research and your
organization appears to be among the best doing this kind of work nearby.

Background on the books: each year, on Columbus Day weekend, the Hyde Park
Cooperative Society runs a book sale. It is among the largest of its kind in
the Midwest. We use the proceeds from the sale to donate to our members'
favorite charities. At the end of the sale, we distribute whatever books
were not sold to not-for-profit and charitable organizations. This year, one
of the groups with the largest capacity for books told us they were not
going to be able to come. They are located in Michigan at quite a distance
from Chicago and cannot afford the expense of fuelling a truck to pick up
the books this year, so we have an opportunity to "share the wealth" with
new organizations.

The books are donated to us from all sorts of individuals and institutions.
There are a wide variety of books sold and remaining each year. Personally,
I can tell you I purchase quite a few books for my own library each year
during the Monday discount day. They are sorted as they come in (book
collection is a year-round event) and significantly damaged books are not
included in the sale.

I can check to see whether some kind of storage can be arranged, but I know
that the intent is to minimize work for Coop employees and volunteers
(usually quite worn out after the three-day sale), so we try to coordinate
distribution so that the books go directly from the courtyard where they are
displayed to the organizations collecting them.

Finally, we're estimating that more than 10,000 books will remain at the end
of the sale, so you can have as many as you want. Let me know if you can
arrange transport on the 10th, and I'll check storage capability.

One last question for you – do you think it would be possible to assist in
storing books you would collect, say, the next weekend? If so, it might be
more likely that the Coop's manager would give you some space for the week.

Thanks for your interest!

Gabriel Piemonte

Hyde Park Cooperative Society

gabriel at wethepeoplemedia.org <Gabriel at wethepeoplemedia.org>

312-745-2687

 -----Original Message-----
*From:* Jay Schubert [mailto:jay.schubert at gmail.com]
*Sent:* Thursday, September 29, 2005 7:03 PM
*To:* Gabriel
*Subject:* Re: book donation

 Gabriel,

We may have the ability to (and likely interest in) taking as many as you
can offer. We can typically fit about 1000-1200 books in each mini van (with
seats removed) and our group has the capacity to store up to about 5,000
unsorted books in our queue.

Can you tell me a little about the origin of these books (library discards,
general community book drives vs donated by individuals for an express
purpose [like use in jails] etc)?

I will put a message-out to our group immediately and see what we can come
up with as far as drivers / vehicles / availability. How flexible are you on
the date? Could it possibly happen on the weekend (9th) - it's about a 6
hour round trip from Urbana and it's more likely we could get resources to
help on the weekend.

btw- how did you hear about books to prisoners?

Thanks,
Jay

On 9/29/05, *Gabriel* <gabriel at wethepeoplemedia.org> wrote:

Jay:

Would it be possible for you to collect the books on October 10? The number
of books we can provide could reach into the thousands, if you want that
many. Do you have an idea of how many you'd be able to collect?

Gabriel Piemonte

Hyde Park Cooperative Society

 -----Original Message-----
*From:* Jay Schubert [mailto:jay.schubert at gmail.com]
*Sent:* Wednesday, September 28, 2005 6:56 PM
*To:* Gabriel
*Subject:* Re: book donation

 Gabriel,

Thank you for your generosity. We will gladly accept your organizations
donation. If you can give me a sense of the number of books/boxes of books
you'd like to donate, and whether you will require they be picked-up or can
be dropped-off in (or shipped to) Urbana IL, we will arrange pickup /
delivery at your convenience.

I'd be curious to know how you heard about our books to prisoners project.

Respectfully,
Jay Schubert
217-721-7419

On 9/28/05, *Gabriel* < gabriel at wethepeoplemedia.org> wrote:

Hello –

I am writing to you from the Hyde Park Cooperative Society in Chicago. We
would like to make a book donation. Please contact me to arrange the
donation.

Gabriel Piemonte

Hyde Park Cooperative Society

gabriel at wethepeoplemedia.org

312-745-2687

gabrielpiemonte at hotmail.com

773-540-8370




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- Jay




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- Jay


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- Jay
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