NEWS RELEASES > NOVEMBER 18, 2024
TAMPA, Nov. 18, 2024 — In an effort to rebuild students’ home libraries lost in the floods, Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) is inviting community members, businesses, and organizations to participate in a virtual book drive that opened this week and runs through Dec. 1.
HCPS is partnering with Follett Content – a longtime literacy and school librarian advocate – to help the hundreds of pre-kindergarten through high school students who have been impacted by the floods resulting from the two hurricanes. The easy-to-use Follett Book eFair platform is hosting the online book sale.
According to AnnMarie Courtney, Director of Partnership Engagement, Philanthropy and Outreach for the school district, the goal is to have 10,000 books purchased that can be donated to those HCPS students most impacted by the flooding.
Books will be available in four grade bands: PreK to 2nd grade, 3rd through 5th, 6th through 8th, and 9th through 12th. To make it easier for donors to make large contributions, book bundles in the amounts of $25, $50, $100, $250, and $500 can be accepted.
As part of the HCPS-Follett Content partnership, the district will receive 20 percent back in the form of a Titlewave Promotional Credit that may be used to buy books to enhance school and classroom libraries. Courtney said the credit will help support spring literacy initiatives within the district. (Follett Titlewave is an online collection development and curriculum support tool for librarians and educators to buy books for school and classroom libraries.)
“Reading is such a critical skill and vital to a student’s success in school that when they lost their books in the floods, it created a huge void,” Courtney said. “This is an important philanthropic effort to support these students and keep them engaged in reading activities at home.”
Follett Content re-introduced Follett Book eFairs for the 2024-25 school year with the goal of leveling the playing field and extending benefits to educators and students alike. Community book drives, such as the one with HCPS, is but one way the company is utilizing its Book eFair platform.
“We believe books are power and want to see a world where everyone has access to them,” said Britten Follett, CEO, Follett Content. “We are proud to be partnering with Hillsborough County Public Schools in this important endeavor and look forward to helping other communities that, for whatever reason, need help getting books into the hands of kids.”
For more information about the HCPS virtual book drive, visit https://follettk12.link/a1m.
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