GELA’s goal for the 2008 Book Drive is to increase the power of people with lesser access to information resources that can help them achieve their goals. This year, our project will support two independent libraries in Edmonton: the Edmonton Institution for Women, and the Bissell Centre.

The Bissell Centre

The Bissell Centre gives hope to those living on low incomes in Edmonton. Located in the heart of Edmonton's inner city, Bissell Centre offers a wide range of services with the goal of giving people the opportunity and the means to make positive choices for their future and that of their children, and helping them to be as self reliant as possible. For our pilot project, we collected books through donations from various Edmonton businesses and individuals. We set up a "help yourself" shelf in the Bissell Centre, in order to provide mainly recreational reading materials to the people who use the centre. Through continuing donations, we will continue to add to the shelf. Once the books begin to be used, we will be able to get a better idea from the people who use the centre of what types of books they want and need.

At this time, we are accepting:

• Cash donations
• New or gently-used children’s books
• General fiction and non-fiction

Edmonton Institution for Women

This project has been organized by the GELA’s Women’s Prison Sub-Committee for the federal prison located in this city. Many of the women need a wide range of materials and information to support courses, rehabilitation programs and to help develop literacy skills. Many prisoners also enjoy reading and having access to books and ideas can alleviate some of the idleness of prison life. Prison libraries also help contribute to the successful reintegration of offenders. Book Drive donations are much appreciated and will be of great benefit to the prisoners. We are collecting both cash donations, and donations in-kind of the following items.

Magazine subscriptions:

• National Geographic
• Craft magazines
• Parenting magazines
• Shopping magazines
• Glamour/fashion magazines
• Celebrity entertainment Magazines
• Oprah magazine

• Recent releases and bestsellers (e.g.,Harry Potter!)
• Craft books (e.g. beading, quilting, crochet)
• Biographies
• True Canadian stories
• Books that have been made into films
• Language-learning books
• CDs

Books can be dropped off care of:

Kirsten Wurmann
Legal Resource Centre
201-10350 124 Street, Edmonton
780.451.1801

Allison Sivak
5-02 Cameron Library
University of Alberta
780.492.7324

Liz Dennett
Scott Health Sciences Library
Walter C. Mackenzie Health Sciences Centre
University of Alberta
780.492.9023

Alternatively, use this form (in PDF) to send in your donations. Thank you!