--- title: "Press Kit | Give My Books Network" description: "Media resources, company overview, founder story, and press release for Give My Books Network." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "name": "Give My Books Network", "legalName": "Book Sourcing Mastery, LLC", "url": "https://givemybooksnetwork.com", "logo": "https://givemybooksnetwork.com/social-card.jpg", "image": "https://givemybooksnetwork.com/social-card.jpg", "description": "Give My Books Network provides free door-to-door book donation pickup services across the United States. We collect books, textbooks, CDs, DVDs, and more – giving your items a second life while supporting literacy programs.", "foundingDate": "2022", "telephone": "+1-855-506-8633", "email": "support@givemybooksnetwork.com", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "2091 Stratton Ct.", "addressLocality": "Ann Arbor", "addressRegion": "MI", "postalCode": "48108", "addressCountry": "US" }, "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "telephone": "+1-855-506-8633", "contactType": "customer service", "email": "support@givemybooksnetwork.com", "availableLanguage": "English" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.facebook.com/givemybooksnetwork", "https://www.instagram.com/givemybooksnetwork", "https://twitter.com/givemybooks" ], "areaServed": { "@type": "Country", "name": "United States" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebPage", "name": "Press Kit | Give My Books Network", "description": "Press kit and media resources for Give My Books Network, America's Nationwide Community Book-Sharing Network.", "url": "https://givemybooksnetwork.com/press", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Give My Books Network", "url": "https://givemybooksnetwork.com" } } ] --- Feedback ![Give My Books Network Logo](/assets/gmbn-logo-BsMIhLrP.png) - Learn More Schedule Pick-UpGive ME BooksBecome a Pick-Up Partner Sign In For Media # Press Kit Giving Books a Second Life Thanks for checking us out. Here's everything you need to tell our story. ![Todd Whalen, Founder of Give My Books Network](/assets/todd-whalen-CbTbFK8q.jpeg) Hey there, Todd Whalen here, the founder of Give My Books Network. That's me, surrounded by books as usual. > "To the making of many books, there is no end." I know not everyone who lands on this page is going to cover our story. But if you take two minutes to look this over, I think you'll see why you should — whether that's an article, an interview, a feature, a social post, or just sharing it with someone who will. And honestly, you should use our service too. Let me be straight with you. We've built something that I genuinely believe is going to change the way books are shared in this country, and eventually, around the world. And I need your help getting the word out. Please. ### Here's why this matters: People giving away books don't pay a dime for the Pick-Up. It's completely free. Pick-Up Partners don't pay for the books. They collect them for free and resell them to support their families. Schools and libraries requesting books through our Give ME Books program don't pay for them either. Partners are the driving force behind the Give ME Books program. They donate books directly to schools, libraries, and community organizations that need them most. ### The Cycle of Giving Everyone wins. The more people who use the service, the more books flow, and the more Partners join, which means even more books to distribute back into the community. ![Cycle of Giving: Families give books, Pick-Up Partners collect them, Partners resell to support families, Schools and Libraries request books, Partners donate books, Everyone wins](/assets/cycle-of-giving-D-kZUdib.png) Think about what Uber did to the taxi industry. It completely changed how people get around. That's what we're doing with books. We're connecting everyone who wants to give away books with people who want to receive them, and it's all free. No middleman. No fees. Just people helping people through the power of reading. And we're not stopping at Pick-Ups. We've got a growing network of low-cost community book sales that get books back into people's hands at prices everyone can afford. We're running national writing contests to celebrate creativity. And through our Give ME Books program, Partners are donating books directly to schools and community organizations that need them most. > "There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving." Times are hard for a lot of people. But doing something absolutely wonderful for the country, and eventually the world, by being able to share books freely will in fact change things. I really believe that. Your readers need to know about this. And I need your help to make that happen. Even if you're not the right person to cover this story, I'd ask you to share this page with someone in your network who might be. Send them the URL. Tell them about us. Every person who hears about Give My Books Network is another person who might schedule a Pick-Up, become a Partner, or just spread the word to someone who will. Keep reading to see our live stats, our story, and everything else you might need. I promise it's worth your time. \- Todd Whalen, Founder ## Company Overview Here's the quick version for your article or broadcast. Feel free to copy it word for word. Give My Books Network is America's Nationwide Community Book-Sharing Network, founded in 2008 by Todd Whalen in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Network provides a free doorstep Pick-Up service for homes and businesses looking to pass along books, CDs, DVDs, and other media. Local Pick-Up Partners collect donated items, resell them to support their families, and can donate books to schools, libraries, and community organizations through the Give ME Books program. What started as a single father tossing flyers into driveways has grown into a nationwide network that has facilitated the collection and redistribution of over 1,000,000 books, including 30,000+ books given directly to schools during the pandemic. 1,000,000+ Books Collected & Redistributed 45+ States with Active Partners 8,582+ Cities Covered 30,000+ Books Given to Schools During Pandemic ## Live Network Coverage These numbers update in real time as new Pick-Up Partners join the Network 45+ States with Active Partners 8,582+ Cities Covered 11,891+ ZIP Codes Served [See Our Live Coverage Map](/service-areas) ## My Story Here's how we got here, in my own words > "People LOVE their books. They want to know their books will be used in a good way. Books are memories. Everyone remembers where they were when they read a particular book." > > \- Todd Whalen, Founder 2008 ### Rocks in a Bag I was a single father working evenings as a restaurant server in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I printed homemade flyers, cut them into quarters, sealed each in a Ziplock with garden stones for weight, and tossed them into driveways at night. The next morning, my phone wouldn't stop ringing. And that's how this whole thing started. 2020 ### 30,000 Books to Schools When the pandemic hit, I pivoted. I gave over 30,000 books directly to Ann Arbor Public Schools, Ypsilanti Community Schools, and schools in Milan, Dearborn, Flint, and beyond. By 2022, calls were coming from Texas, Florida, and New York. I knew this had to become something bigger. 2024 ### The Network Goes Nationwide I sold the original Give My Books business and reinvested everything into building Give My Books Network. Now we're connecting local Pick-Up Partners with communities across the country. Partners collect donated books, support their families, and donate through the Give ME Books program. This is just the beginning. Today, Give My Books Network is America's Nationwide Community Book-Sharing Network, and my family's mission remains the same: make sure no good book goes to waste. ## Programs & Initiatives We're about more than just Pick-Ups. Here's what else we've got going on. ### Community Book Sales Our Pick-Up Partners host low-cost community book sales all over the country. We're talking $1 and $2 books that get reading material back into people's hands at prices everyone can afford. It's a win-win: Partners earn income and families get great books. [View Upcoming Sales](/book-sales) ### Give ME Books This one's close to my heart. Through our Give ME Books program, Partners can donate books directly to schools, libraries, and community organizations that need them. During the pandemic, I personally delivered over 30,000 books to schools across Michigan. Now Partners everywhere can do the same. [Learn More](/give-me-books) ### National Writing Contests We've hosted two national writing contests so far, encouraging creativity and storytelling across communities nationwide. There's more on the way. We love celebrating the power of the written word, and these contests are a blast. ## Key Milestones A quick look at how we got here 2008 ### The First Phone Calls Founded in Ann Arbor. I put rocks in Ziplock bags with homemade flyers and tossed them into driveways at night. The next morning, my phone wouldn't stop ringing. A one-man book pickup service was born. 2009 ### GiveMyBooks.com Created the website and officially named the pickup service Give My Books. My family grew with a remarriage and a new baby on the way. Things were getting real. 2010 ### The Quarter Bookstore Rented a warehouse on Platt Rd in Pittsfield Twp and opened a community bookstore. Softcovers 25¢, hardcovers 50¢ — a go-to for homeschoolers and teachers. 2011 ### Jay Lee Court Book Sale Started a community book sale at my parents' house on Jay Lee Court. Books were $1 each with a 'Buy 10 Get Up To 10 Free' deal. The neighborhood loved it. 2019 ### JLC Book Sale Goes Big Outgrew the driveway, moved the sale to new locations, and renamed it JLC Book Sale. The community kept showing up. 2020 ### 30,000+ Books to Schools During the pandemic, I gave books directly to Ann Arbor Public Schools, Ypsilanti Community Schools, and schools in Milan, Dearborn, Flint and more. Kids needed books, and we had them. 2022 ### Nationwide Demand Calls started coming from Texas, Florida, New York. Close to 500,000 books picked up in one year from one location alone. I knew this needed to be bigger than just me. 2024 ### The Network Is Born Sold the original Give My Books business and reinvested everything into building Give My Books Network for Partners nationwide. This is what it was all building toward. 2026 ### 31 States and Growing Now covering 2,400+ cities across 31 states with Pick-Up Partners serving communities nationwide. Help us get the word out! Press ## In the Media Our journey through the media — from local book sales to a nationwide mission [ Ann Arbor Observer ### Ann Arbor Observer Feature An in-depth look at Give My Books and our mission to give books a second life in the community. ](https://annarborobserver.com/give-my-books/)[ WXYZ News ### 50,000 Books Goal Founder Todd Whalen sets an ambitious goal to donate 50,000 books to the community. ](https://www.wxyz.com/news/local-organization-working-to-distribute-50k-free-books-in-the-community)[ Oakland County Megacast ### Oakland County Megacast Interview Founder Todd Whalen joins the Oakland County Megacast to discuss the mission to donate 50,000 books to the community. ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2GqYukaYKo)[ ClickOnDetroit ### JLC Book Sale Returns Family-run JLC Book Sale returns to Ann Arbor at a new location, offering low-cost books to the community. ](https://www.clickondetroit.com/all-about-ann-arbor/2019/03/27/family-run-jlc-book-sale-returns-to-ann-arbor-this-weekend-at-new-location/) Press Release ## Official Press Release Ready to publish or adapt for your outlet For Immediate Release ### Give My Books Network Launches Nationwide to Connect Communities Through Books Ann Arbor, MI - Give My Books Network, the free book and media Pick-Up service founded by Todd Whalen in 2008, has expanded into a nationwide platform connecting local Pick-Up Partners with homes and businesses across America. What began as a one-person book pickup operation in Ann Arbor has grown into America's Nationwide Community Book-Sharing Network. Give My Books Network provides a completely free doorstep Pick-Up service where local Partners collect donated books, CDs, DVDs, and other media directly from homes and businesses. Pick-Up Partners are local entrepreneurs and community members who resell collected items to support their families. Through the Network's Give ME Books program, Partners can also donate books to schools, libraries, and community organizations in need. "This business has benefited my family so much throughout the years that we just HAVE to give back to the community," said Todd Whalen, Founder. "We hope to be a well-known and well-trusted resource for families all across the country." The Network facilitated the collection and redistribution of over 200,000 books to date. During the 2020 pandemic, Whalen personally delivered more than 30,000 books to public schools across Michigan, including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Milan, Dearborn, and Flint. Give My Books Network is actively onboarding Pick-Up Partners in communities nationwide. Individuals and families interested in scheduling a free Pick-Up can visit givemybooksnetwork.com. Community members interested in becoming a Pick-Up Partner can apply through the website. Media Contact Todd Whalen, Founder Give My Books Network outreach@givemybooksnetwork.com 734-510-5656 ### Print Press ReleaseDownload as PDF ## Seriously, Let's Talk Need an interview, a quote, some background, or just want to hear the story straight from me? I'm here. Pick whatever works for you. ![Todd Whalen, Founder](/assets/todd-whalen-CbTbFK8q.jpeg) Todd Whalen Founder, Give My Books Network Phone Call 734-510-5656 Text Message 734-510-5656 Email outreach@givemybooksnetwork.com Zoom Happy to set one up Google Meet Whatever works for you Podcast / Radio I love a good conversation [Email Me](mailto:outreach@givemybooksnetwork.com)[Call or Text](tel:734-510-5656) ### One More Thing Even if you're not the right person to cover this story, I'd really appreciate it if you'd tell someone who is. Share this page with a colleague, a friend in media, or anyone who might want to write about what we're doing. Every share helps us reach more people who need to hear about this. Let's get this word out. Together. ![Give My Books Network Logo](/assets/gmbn-logo-BsMIhLrP.png) **America's Nationwide Community Book-Sharing Network.** Free book and media pickup service! Local Pick-Up Partners collect your donated books, CDs, DVDs, and media right from your doorstep. They resell to support their families and can donate through our Give ME Books program. #### Quick Links About UsWhere to Donate BooksGive Me BooksPick-Up RequestBecome Pick-Up PartnerBecome an AffiliateFAQsContact Us #### Follow [](https://facebook.com/givemybooksnetwork)[](https://x.com/givemybooksnet)[](https://instagram.com/givemybooksnetwork) Privacy| Acceptable Use Policy| Disclaimer| Terms of Use| SMS Policy| [EntityMap](/entitymap.html "Structured entity index of this site for AI systems") © 2026 Give My Books Network, All rights reserved