2019 Books for the Alabama Black Belt Campaign

The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development (UACED) 2019 campaign is beginning January 21 and continuing until February 18. We will accept donations of new or gently-used classic and award winning books frequently found on school reading lists for K-12 children.  Donation bins will be placed on campus in Bidgood Hall, Gorgas Library, Nott Hall, Doster Hall, Center for Service and Leadership (Ferguson Center, Room 1100), Smith Hall, and Mildred Westervelt Warner Transportation Museum.  Books can also be dropped off at UACED, 621 Greensboro Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401.  We will began to deliver the books in March to schools in the thirteen counties that make up the Black Belt region: Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Pickens, Perry, Sumter and Wilcox.  
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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 uced@ua.edu for more information. 

​What kinds 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.
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Liberty Middle School students in Madison donating books for Alabama Black Belt

Campaign Impact

  • 2018 collected and distributed over 5,000 books to 12 schools and 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

Partnering with Alabama Cooperative Extension System to celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday and Read Across America Day by delivering reading kits to 21 schools in 7 counties in the Black Belt. 

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. 
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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.

​Lend A Hand: Book drive benefiting Black Belt schools begins in February
The month-long University of Alabama Center for Economic Development's Books for the Alabama Black Belt campaign begins Feb. 1. The annual campaign gathers donations of gently-used, classic and award-winning books...

Book campaign begins next month
The 2017 Books for the Alabama Black Belt Campaign will be throughout the month of February. One book can change a life; 42,000 children need your help. The annual project is sponsored by The University of Alabama Center for for Economic Development...

UA Books for Alabama Black Belt Campaign Begins
The campaign offers an opportunity for students and area residents to donate new or gently used classic and award-winning books frequently found on school reading lists for K-12 children.

Alabama Black Belt project aims to instill love of reading
The campaign offers an opportunity for students and area residents to donate new or gently used classic and award-winning books frequently found on school reading lists for K-12 children.
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​UA to Collect Books for the Black Belt
​TUSCALOOSA, Ala.  — The University of Alabama Center for Economic Development will participate in the 2016 “Books for the Alabama Black Belt” campaign.>MORE

UA Campus-wide Drive To Take Place Sept. 15- Nov. 15
University of Alabama students will have a chance to put books into the hands of Black Belt area students with UACED's University of Alabama Book Drive. Click on the link for more detailed information.>MORE

Area elementary schools receive donated books Tuesday
Children at Knox Elementary and Cedar Park Elementary can no longer say they are tired of picking up the same books from their school libraries after the two schools received some 1,500 donated books>MORE

UA’s Books for the Black Belt to Make Donation to Perry County Schools
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Books for the Black Belt program will donate more than 1,400 books Friday, Feb. 7, to school libraries in Perry County.>MORE

School Librarian Resources 

Sources for free or reduced books: 

First Book - ​If at least 70% of the students in your class come from low-income families, sign up for First Book. First Book offers a marketplace where teachers can find new books at 50 to 90 % off retail prices. Additionally First Book has a National Book Bank offering free books. The only catch is that you pay the shipping of $0.35 to $0.50 per book. 

Kids Need to Read - This program provides free books and literary resources to schools and libraries. To be eligible for the program your school must serve at least 50% of children living at or below the national poverty line. 

Reading Resource Project - Sponsored by the Literacy Empowerment Foundation, the Reading Resource Project, an ongoing program that distributes softcover books to support literacy programs. Reading levels are available for Pre-K through Second Grade. The Reading Resource Project offers book sets in Spanish as well as English in various subjects. Recipients are required to pay shipping and handling of $.78 per book. 

Scholastic Reading Club – The Scholastic Reading Program is a great source for acquiring books for your classroom. When parents purchase books through your classroom catalog bonus points are earned to spend on books for class library.