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| Last updated on October 1, 2008 |
By providing needed quality books to the people of the developing world, the International Book Project seeks:
To promote education and literacy in developing countries and in areas of need within the United States
To broaden Americans’ understanding of their neighbors, and
To foster global friendships and strengthen world unity
Description:
The International Book Project (IBP) was founded in 1966 by Mrs. Harriet Van Meter in Lexington, KY as a non-profit 501 c (3) organization. As an example of the lasting impact one determined person can make, IBP has the unique history of having supplied over five million books worldwide since its beginnings in the basement of Mrs. Van Meter’s home.
IBP has grown to offer large sea container shipments of over 20,000 books to large institutions, yet it still retains its traditions of person-to-person diplomacy by sending individually crafted Mail Bags (M-Bag’s) of a few dozen books at a time to smaller schools, orphanages, and libraries.
IBP distributes books for institutional use to virtually any location in the world that has access to mail. Many of the requests we receive are funded by donors who, by sending an initial Mail Bag of books, initiate a lifelong inter-cultural dialogue. The resulting global friendship that grows between donors and institutions has been the centerpiece of the International Book Project’s mission since its inception. In this way, IBP has made a unique contribution to providing the building blocks of future international stability, while promoting education and literacy through its book donation program in areas of need within the United States and the developing world.
History:
Harriet Drury Van Meter of Lexington, Kentucky was a life-long activist for literacy in her home state and abroad. In 1966, after a trip to India where she was deeply impressed by the dedication to education in a country where books were expensive and difficult to obtain, she founded the International Book Project, a non-profit book distribution program based in her home. Her goal was to match American donors of books with schools and libraries in developing countries and to encourage person-to-person international friendships between donors and recipients.
IBP has grown over the years into a federally-registered 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization that has shipped more than five million books to institutions in 100 countries from Afghanistan to Zambia, including underserved communities within the United States. Operating out of a modest warehouse in Lexington, Kentucky, IBP ships both sea containers of over 20,000 books to large institutions and individually-crafted Mail-Bags, comprised of a few dozen books, to smaller schools, orphanages and libraries. By matching American book donors with recipients abroad through this program, the project encourages global dialogue and intercultural friendships that are the building blocks for a peaceful tomorrow.
While the International Book Project is an enduring testament to Mrs. Van Meter’s philanthropic legacy, her activism also won recognition during her lifetime. In 1986, in honor of her tireless support of literacy, Mrs. Van Meter was a finalist for the Nobel Peace Prize and in 1989 she was awarded the Kiwanis International World Service Medal.
Contact people:
Office fax number: (859) 253-2293
Address:
 |
1440 Delaware Avenue
Lexington, KY 40505
(See a map) |
Web Site: http://www.internationalbookproject.org
Directions:
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Delaware Avenue is in between Winchester Road and Henry Clay Blvd. Call for further directions.
Nearest Bus Stop: Winchester Rd. or Liberty Rd., 5-10 minute walk |
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