#Sustainability #Japan #Kodaira #Children's Books #BookOff

Creating Opportunities for Children's Reading through Book Donations

In an effort to promote children’s literacy and the significance of reusing books, BOOKOFF Corporation—a subsidiary of Book Off Group Holdings in Sagamihara City, Kanagawa—has launched a book donation initiative. This project aligns with the Ministry of Education’s recognition of April 23 as “Children’s Reading Day.”

Between now and June 2025, BOOKOFF plans to donate a total of 800 books to ten designated children's facilities that it has invited to participate. Through this initiative, the company not only seeks to expand reading opportunities for children but also to instill the value of reusing books within communities.

Addressing Book Accessibility Challenges in Children’s Facilities

Since April 2018, BOOKOFF has actively engaged in donating books to bolster children’s reading experiences. To tailor the donations effectively, they have been conducting research into the actual reading conditions and needs of children's facilities. A recent survey involving 50 locations participated in the 2024 “Sustainable Book Project” revealed several critical challenges regarding book accessibility:

• - Insufficient Collection Size: Many facilities reported that they have far fewer books than needed relative to the number of children they serve.
• - Limited Budgets for Book Purchases: Facilities often mentioned that their fiscal constraints hinder the amount of new books they can acquire, especially since children's books wear out quickly from use.
• - Community Reading Environments: There’s a general concern in many regions about improving the reading environment for children, which is pivotal not just for individual facilities but for community development as a whole.

Feedback received after prior donations indicates that these issues are being addressed effectively. Many staff from children's facilities shared experiences such as an increase in children picking up books and a noticeable boost in their eagerness to read. They expressed gratitude for receiving books that looked brand new—a connection across ages that highlights the continuing relevance of secondhand books and illustrates their potential impact on youth.

Donation Event Aligning with Children’s Reading Day

In line with the findings of the survey, BOOKOFF initiated a call for donations in time for “Children's Reading Day” on April 23. In this latest effort, they gathered submissions from ten facilities, including the Malvern College Tokyo International School located in Kodaira, Tokyo. Malvern College expressed gratitude for the donation since it helped to fill gaps in their library’s collection and also allowed for the usage of these books as educational materials for their students learning Japanese.

Beyond book donations, BOOKOFF integrates sustainable development goals (SDGs) into its broader corporate strategies, executing projects such as “School BOOKOFF,” which merges SDGs with career education, and “Furusato BOOKOFF,” which facilitates the sale of second-hand books in regions lacking bookstores. Their “Kimochi to.” service allows individuals to donate proceeds from sold items, further promoting reuse and recycling.

To enhance transparency and public engagement, they are also documenting their sustainable initiatives on their newly relaunched corporate website, beginning with their activity reports aimed at educating stakeholders on the importance of reuse.

Looking Ahead: The Extended Impact of Reuse

The total donation will include 800 books delivered to ten identified facilities by June 2025, with each receiving about 80 books. This continuation of support reveals the company’s ongoing commitment to solving the challenges faced by children's facilities and fostering enthusiasm toward reading.

The book donation program not only introduces a sizable amount of literature into these facilities but also serves as a catalyst for inspiring the next generation to value recycling: an essential aspect of achieving a sustainable future. The staff and students alike routinely witness the benefits of their libraries growing through these donations, igniting imaginations while reinforcing the ideals of a circular economy—a society where nothing is wasted, and everything has a purpose.

BOOKOFF remains dedicated to not just the marketplace but to the communities that they serve, continuously aiming for innovative ways to enhance both literacy and sustainability. For future donations or questions regarding this initiative, interested parties can reach out through their contact form.