How the Saint Petersburg Book-Sharing Program Works

Books in closets and garages across Saint Petersburg match up against requests from schools, libraries, and literacy programs through the program. On the donor side, you pack the books and schedule a free pickup. A Local Pick-Up Partner collects on a scheduled service day.

On the request side, schools, after-school tutoring programs, ESL classrooms, senior centers, homeless shelters, and Little Free Library stewards across the Tampa Bay area submit requests through the Give ME Books program. Books move from one to the other.

Who Tends to Donate in Saint Petersburg

The donors are not one type of person. USF St. Petersburg graduates clearing out their old room. Older residents downsizing from a long-held home in the Grand Central District. Families managing a parent's estate near the Old Northeast. Teachers retiring from a long career and clearing classroom libraries.

The thread connecting all of them is that they care what happens to the books.

Who Tends to Request Books

Schools that serve students who don't have books at home. Public libraries running summer reading programs. Senior centers that keep small lending shelves. Little Free Libraries scattered across walkable neighborhoods including parts of Kenwood. ESL classrooms working through reading levels. Tutoring programs in underserved areas.

The American Library Association's Book Donation Programs guide describes how community book-sharing programs operate at a national level.

Give My Books Network is a nationwide community book-sharing network, and the Saint Petersburg pickups are handled by independent Local Pick-Up Partners who live and work in the same neighborhoods you do. Many items collected end up with schools, libraries, and literacy programs that request books through the Give ME Books program.