Put books in the hands of readers who need them

Why a book drive

A book that is never read has failed. Too many classrooms, libraries and reading groups, especially across Africa and its diaspora, have too few books written for them. Iska Press publishes some of the best of them. The Book Drive closes part of that distance: supporters fund the books, recipients tell us what they need, and we place the books and report what happened.

How it works

1. Support — People, companies and institutions contribute to fund books. You can choose a type of support, optionally a title or programme, and whether to be named or stay anonymous.
2. Request — Schools, libraries and community organisations tell us who they are, who will read the books, and what they need.
3. Review — A person at Iska Press verifies each request. Requests are reviewed based on available funding, inventory, program fit and shipping feasibility.
4. Place — Approved books are allocated from stock and shipped. Nothing leaves stock until the books are actually sent.
5. Confirm and report — The recipient confirms the books arrived. We record what happened and report back to supporters, and we publish only what has been verified.

Ways to support

Choose a support level below. You can also sponsor a particular title, a program or a region, or ask about corporate and institutional sponsorship — use the sponsorship enquiry further down the page.

• Fund a book — A support level toward placing Iska books with a reader who would not otherwise have one.
• Fund a reading shelf — A support level toward a shelf of Iska books for a school, library or community program.
• Support a classroom — A support level toward books for a classroom or reading group.
• Support a library — A support level toward books for a school, community or public library.
• Sponsor a program or region — A support level toward placement across a program or region.

Support levels are not a promise of an exact number of delivered books: requests are reviewed on available funding, inventory, program fit and shipping feasibility, and we report what was delivered. There is no shipping address: the books go to the recipient, not to you. For larger or custom sponsorships, use the sponsorship enquiry below.

Where the books may go

• Schools and classrooms
• Public, school and community libraries
• Community organisations
• Literacy programmes
• Universities and colleges
• Faith and community groups

Requests are reviewed based on available funding, inventory, program fit and shipping feasibility.

The books

Books come from the Iska Press catalogue. Browse the full catalogue to see what could be placed.

Impact

The Iska Book Drive is launching.

We will publish how many books have been delivered, to which kinds of organisation and in which countries, only after the recipients have confirmed that the books arrived. Until then there is nothing to report, and we will not show a number we cannot stand behind.

Corporate and institutional sponsorship

Companies, foundations and institutions can fund placement at scale — behind a title, a programme or a region — and receive reporting on delivery and impact. We agree the scope with you before anything is committed, and recognition is optional.

Request books for your school, library or community

Requests are reviewed based on available funding, inventory, program fit and shipping feasibility. Submitting a request does not guarantee books. We verify every request, and we will tell you the outcome.

How we keep it honest

• Iska Press runs the Book Drive directly. Support is recorded separately from book sales.
• Every recipient and every allocation is approved by a person.
• Books count only once they have shipped, and as delivered only once the recipient confirms.
• We publish impact only after it has been verified, and stories or photos only with permission.
• Supporters are anonymous unless they choose to be named.

Questions