Ever wonder what to do with all those old textbooks cluttering up your bookshelf and boxes in the basement? You really had the best of intentions holding on to them in case there was ever a need for you to look up elements in the periodic table in your chemistry book or derivatives of inverse functions from Calculus. Now is the time to put those books to good use and help children in Africa through a St Paul based program called Books for Africa.

The majority of books sent to Africa are hardcover textbooks, primary through college level. All subjects are accepted with the exception of American History/Civics and foreign language books. Books for Africa also accepts hardcover books appropriate for a school library and National Geographic magazines published 1985 or newer.

Books should be new or gently used, complete, clean, and durable. Textbooks should be fairly current, within the last ten years. Atlases should not be more than five years old and encyclopedias should be the most current editions. Contributions are also accepted to help cover the cost of sending each book donated, which is approximately 30 cents/book.