Between February and April this spring, Phi Kappa Phi held its fifth annual Book Drive Competition. As part of the contest, 21 chapters across the country hosted drives to collect as many books as possible for an organization of their choice.

The book drives were held at both colleges and universities nationwide. Beneficiary organizations chosen by the chapters ranged from schools and libraries to other community organizations such as tutoring and mentoring programs, correctional centers and more. In all, the participating chapters collected more than 11,800 books!

The three winning chapters whose drives collected the most donations were:

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott
• University of Missouri–St. Louis
• Western Illinois University

“We are grateful to the national Phi Kappa Phi Book Drive for having given our chapter a meaningful focus for community service,” said Dr. Jeanne Morgan Zarucchi, president of the UMSL chapter. “Our drive benefits children in a special tutoring program for families of ex-offenders, helping them share the Phi Kappa Phi ‘love of learning.’ ” 

Winning chapters will receive a Little Free Library to place at a location of their choice. The Little Free Library is a freestanding box where anyone can donate and borrow books in an effort to promote literacy throughout communities—a prize that fits well with Phi Kappa Phi’s love of learning and literacy. In lieu of the Little Free Library, winning chapters have the option to receive a waived registration fee to attend the upcoming Phi Kappa Phi convention.

“Both our campus and local community have been incredibly supportive with our annual book drive,” said Dr. Anne Boettcher, president of the Embry-Riddle chapter. “This year we are excited to have collected for the Navajo Nation’s library at Window Rock and The Tuba City Public Library, which is designated a Family Place Library.”

Other Phi Kappa Phi chapters who hosted a book drive as part of the competition include Arkansas State University; California State University, Stanislaus; Clemson University; Eastern Kentucky University; Elmhurst College; Ithaca College; Louisiana State University; McKendree University; Methodist University; Murray State University; Nazareth College; Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi; Texas A&M University; University of Findlay; University of Florida; University of Maryland University College; University of South Alabama; and University of South Florida.

Since its creation in 2014, Phi Kappa Phi’s annual book drive competition has donated more than 45,000 books to organizations both locally and abroad.

To see all the photos from this year’s book drives, click here.

Top photo provided by Bell Library TAMUCC – Members of Chapter 328 at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi visit George Evans Elementary to share the donation from the recent Phi Kappa Phi book drive.

Bottom photo provided by Ericka Delisme – Chapter 126 members Gerdine Behrmann, left, and Faeik Al Rabee, center, of the University of South Florida, met with Potter Elementary School principal Melanie Hill, right, and students from the school after collecting books in Phi Kappa Phi’s annual book drive.