MLK’s Library: Book Drive for MLK Day!

By Josephine Carrillo | Published December 16, 2022

The fall semester is coming to an end, and with the spring semester right around the corner, the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is hosting a book drive in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, on Jan. 16.

The purpose of the book drive is to provide Kean students with the possibility to access books in the areas of their interest or needs. 

The preferable genres of books for MLK’s library are biography, religion, self-help, multicultural authors, poetry, bibliography, romance, and kids books. 

Erin Lester, multicultural affairs coordinator for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, who is responsible for student experience and programming regarding multicultural initiatives on campus, shared that the inspiration for this book drive was to impulse students to read for leisure and “expand their minds.”

“Practicing the art of reading is effective as far as careers go,” Lester said. “The more you know and the more you’re exposed to, ultimately makes you a well-rounded person.”

On the contrary from the Scholastic Book Fair, MLK’s book drive wants to assure these books are accessible to Kean students and they don’t have to worry about the cost. Since these books are pre-owned, one hundred percent donated for the cause of giving back to the community. 

“Creating opportunities for other people to succeed shows solidarity and what a welcoming and caring campus community we have,” Lester said. “As a campus community, service is one of the things that we are making one of our core values, better people, better campus, better partners, better human beings.” 

The book drive officially started on Dec. 1 and will end on Jan. 17. All books can be dropped off in Townsend Hall room T112 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays. 

Individuals who are unable to meet during the drop-off time can also schedule a pick-up date and time with Ugochi Adibemma, project specialist, or Lester, via email.

“For me personally, most of the time reading gave me the opportunity to travel without necessarily leaving the space I was comfortable in,” Lester said. “It expands your mind, your imagination, in a tangible way.”

All books donated to MLK’s library will be accessible for all Kean students on Jan.18, 2023.

If not all books are distributed among students, the remaining books, depending on their content, will be donated to elementary schools, prisons, etc.

Even though this event is mostly to give back to the Kean community if, given the possibility to give back outside of the campus community, these books will be donated to other organizations and give the chance to others to expand their horizons and their knowledge. 

“We would give to the community just like Martin Luther King Jr. did back in his time,” Ugochi said. “We invite all Kean students to stop by, and support by donating books they no longer use.”

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion expects to gather over 80 books by Jan.17, hoping that they will collect a broad number of diverse books that will meet the needs of all students. 

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