The primary focus of our mission continues to be the shipping of books abroad to promote literacy, education, and opportunity. When Harriet Van Meter traveled to India in 1965 with a group of foreign student advisors, she saw a need for books there, and knew books were linked to education. After she returned home to Lexington, Kentucky she wrote a letter to the Editor of the Hindu Times offering to send books to anyone who would write to her. Within weeks, she had received 400 letters and since then sending needed books has been the central mission of International Book Project.
Since 1966, International Book Project has shipped over 8 million books to 168 different countries and has developed lasting partnerships with many of our recipients. To this day, what sets us apart is that every shipment is curated to the requests and needs of the receiving organization. We pay special attention to the applications our partners send us, so they receive the books they need to help their students succeed.
Our partners around the world include Peace Corps Volunteers, primary and secondary schools, universities, community centers, and NGOs. Shipments to these partners can be a sea container of 30,000 books, pallet of 1,500 books, or a small shipment of 50-100 books going to remote locations or to partners who are unable to receive larger shipments.