Public Information Project Donating Books to Area Libraries

What is it? Other OA groups have donated OA literature to their area libraries to increase public awareness of the OA program. In the Triad, when this was researched in October, only one library branch owned any of the OA books (now there are two branches that own an OA book). However, the copy listed at the High Point Library has apparently been lost, so really, only one is at the Winston-Salem library system, because it was donated by the Thursday night meeting following the September recovery workshop. This proposal is to use money budgeted for Public Information to purchase books so that each library branch could have at least one copy of an OA book.

How Would It Work? We would decide which books to donate to the libraries. We would order those books. When we receive the books, we would schedule a date to mail the books out. Estimated time for volunteers to handle the mailing would be no more than an hour. The following people have colunteered to help stuff and label the padded envelopes/packages. Athena Erica Jackie Linda Marjorie

How Many Books & How Many Libraries? Alamance County: 5 branch libraries = 5 books Elkin: 2 branch libraries = 2 books Forsyth County: 10 branch libraries = 10 books (minus 1, so 9) Greensboro: 7 branch libraries = 7 books High Point: 1 branch library = 1 book Jamestown: 1 branch library = 1 book North Wilkesboro: 2 branch libraries = 2 books Total so far = 27 books Optionally, the Northwest Regional Library System has 11 additional branch libraries located in remote, small towns within our service area. If we choose to donate to these libraries, that would put our total at 38 books.

How Much Will the Books Cost? Overeaters Anonymous, 2 nd ed.: 7 x $12 =$84.00 Twelve Steps & Twelve Traditions: 5 x $12=$60.00 Seeking the Spiritual Path: 3 x $8.35 =$25.05 Lifeline Sampler: 3 x $12.00 =$36.00 Abstinence: 3 x $8.35 =$25.05 A New Beginning: 2 x $8.35 =$16.70 A Twelve-Step Workbook: 2 x $9.50 =$19.00 Los Doce Pases & Los Doces Tradiciones : 1 x =$12.00 Alcoholics Anonymous: 1 x $9.50 =$9.50 $ (+s/h)$ $321.78

How Much Will Mailing Them Cost? 4 small bubble mailers $ large bubble mailers$ priority flat rate box$0.00 Postage for 7 packages$20.20 $25.20 Plus cost of books$ GRAND TOTAL$346.98

Could We Do This More Gradually? We could, but we’d spend a lot more in shipping costs when we order the books for just one library. But, if we did one library system per month, for 7 months, then we would complete the project over time, and not deplete our funds if we should need them for something else.

Does This Project Carry the Message? Is it a prudent use of funds?

Who Will Find These Books? Of course, we have no way of knowing how many people will read any or part of these books if we donate them to our libraries. But there are two ways that people will be likely to find out about them…

They Will Find Us When they go to the library computer and search for books, they’ll type in search terms like: Weight loss Compulsive eating Diets Eating disorders 12 Steps And many other associated phrases. Our books will come up in their list of results Whenever someone is browsing the book section that houses weight loss books, they’ll be browsing our book(s). Our books will be classified near other books about health problems like eating disorders and such.

Other Groups Have Done This Project Lifeline magazine includes stories about meetings and intergroups donating books to libraries in order to cover more ground in increasing public awareness. The Durham, NC Library and the Roanoke, VA Library received OA books this way.

But Should We Do This Project? Our Higher Power will lead us to the appropriate use of our funds and efforts, so we can trust our Group Conscience to guide us on this opportunity.