© 2003-2007 Book Aid Charitable Trust

Purpose & Programme

BOOK AID came into being as a positive response to an urgent appeal from overseas Christian Booksellers who were suffering such an acute shortage of books that many were in danger of closing.

 GENERAL

1. BOOK AID is committed to providing Christian literature to overseas areas which are suffering from BOOK FAMINE.
2. Shipments are normally made to established Christian Bookshops who have agreed a partnership arrangement with Book Aid and who promise to distribute the books they receive at affordable prices to their own customers and to other bookshops, churches and Bible colleges.
3. A small charge is made for the books sent to partnership shops, however, Book Aid pays the shipping charges to the nearest port. Any local charges and onward transportation is the responsibility of the recipient bookseller. The books are normally shipped in twenty-foot containers.
4. Help is also given in a variety of other situations such as to individual Bible colleges and seminaries and Christian schools. These books are provided free of charge but the recipient pays for the shipping costs.
5. In addition to providing relevant books to needy areas Book Aid supports national literature programmes and initiatives such as local publishing, marketing, training and development through funds generated from book sales.
6. Sources of books for the programme:
1. Donations of second-hand books from Christians, facilitated through 200 nationwide ‘collectors’, and also donations of new books from publishers and wholesale distributors.
2. Purchases of new books from publishers and distributors at special discounts.
3. Joint publishing of co-editions with publishers of books of particular interest.
4. Encouraging overseas publishers to enlarge their print runs with the view of greater and wider distribution possibilities through Book Aid.

 FINANCES

1. This ministry is intended to be self-supporting
2. Income is generated through sales, by our second-hand bookshops in the U.K. where we sell books that are not suitable for our overseas partners; payments received from overseas; as well as gifts from supporters
3. Funds are used to cover the following: overheads, shipping, and the printing, publishing and purchasing of new books.
4. All staff/workers are voluntary or unsalaried.

OUTLOOK

We are aware and happy that others are also working to relieve the Book Famine areas, and we wish to co-operate with them wherever that is appropriate. We are also aware that the countries that we are presently helping are going through many changes and we will adapt our help to them accordingly.

BOOK AID’s ultimate aim is to encourage the bookshops we are helping to resume (or to begin) normal trading practices with National, U.K and U.S.A. publishers. However, until Africa (in particular) overcomes its problems of widespread poverty and political and economic upheavals, it is obvious that the majority of the populations will not be able to afford to purchase imported new books unless they are heavily subsidised. It looks like BOOK AID’s help will be needed for a long time yet!

AID through TRADE leading to DEVELOPMENT of National Literature Programmes.