Books for the Black Belt

2022 Books for the Alabama Black Belt Campaign

The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development will launch the 16th annual Books for the Alabama Black Belt campaign on Jan. 31. UACED encourages University of Alabama students, faculty, staff and local residents to donate K-12 books to the campaign until Feb. 25.

By donating books to students in Alabama’s 13 Black Belt counties, UACED strives to help children develop a love of learning and reading. UACED will donate the books to schools in Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Pickens, Perry, Sumter and Wilcox counties.

UACED will accept donations of new or gently used classic and award-winning books frequently found on school reading lists for K-12 children. Donors can bring books to donation boxes on campus in Honors Hall, Oliver-Barnard Hall, the Reese Phifer Hall rotunda, Tuomey Hall and the Student Government Association office.

Donors can also bring books to the off-campus donation box at Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum, 1901 Jack Warner Parkway, open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additionally, donors can drop off books at UACED, 621 Greensboro Ave., open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"A student that is not reading at the 3rd-grade level by the end of 3rd grade is four times less likely to finish high school. Today we have only 35 percent of our 3rd graders that are proficient in reading at grade level."

Source: Governor Kay Ivey, 2018

Today, Alabama's Black Belt includes some of the poorest counties in the United States. Along with high rates of poverty, declining populations and high unemployment, poor access to educational resources is a major concern for the future of K-12 students in this region. The primary goal of the University’s campaign is to provide one book for each child in the Black Belt counties -- more than 30,000 books! Please contact Sally Brown 205-348-8344 or sally.brown@ua.edu for more information.

2020 Books for the Black Belt Campaign

The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development (UACED) wrapped up the 15th annual Books for the Black Belt book drive in February of 2020. The month long book drive ran from February 3 - 28 and partnered with Culverhouse College of Commerce, UA Honors College, UA College of Education, UA Public Relations Student Society of America, UA College of Human Environmental Studies, Tuscaloosa Public Library, and UA Museums. Through the placement of collection bins around campus and donations from UA faculty, staff, students, and members of the community- 2,156 new and gently used books were collected. Due to COVID-19 books were delivered in summer of 2021 by UA Staff and Student Research Assistants

Campaign Impact

2021 No book drive due to COVID-19
2020 collected over 2,156, and distributed books to 29 schools in 13 counties
2019 collected and distributed over 4,800 books to 11 schools in 8 counties
2018 collected and distributed over 5,000 books to 12 schools in 6 counties
2017 collected and distributed over 16,000 books to 53 schools in 13 counties
2016 collected and distributed over 9,500 books to 40 schools in 10 counties

What kind of books are appropriate to donate?

The short answer is any classic literature texts and other award-winning schoolbooks (fiction and non-fiction) often available on public school library shelves and included on recognized reading lists, including the Accelerated Reader program.

Reference lists for appropiate books

News

Center to Distribute Dr. Seuss Reading Kits to Black Belt Schools
The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development, along with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, is promoting the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day by providing Dr. Seuss-themed reading kits to 23 schools in eight counties within the Black Belt region.

Book donations sought for K-12 children
The campaign, organized by the University of Alabama Center for Economic Development, seeks donations of new or gently used classic and award-winning books for K-12 children.

Campus book drive to benefit communities within the Black Belt region
The project, managed by the UA Center for Economic Development, is gathering books for underprivileged children and communities within the Black Belt, a region of 13, typically poorer, Alabama counties. Throughout the month of February, those involved with the project will gather books to further the initiative.

UA Center Sends Reading Kits to Black Belt Schools
The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development, along with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, is promoting the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day by providing Dr. Seuss-themed reading kits to 21 schools in seven counties in the Black Belt region.