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November 23, 2009

Free books on way to Africa

Capstone Publishers and friends giving gift that lasts

By Brian Ojanpa

NORTH MANKATO — More than 27,000 free books began wending their way to Africa Monday, courtesy of a local publishing company.

Children’s books emanating from Capstone Publishers’ North Mankato warehouse will stock school libraries throughout Africa under the Books for Africa program.

“It’s part of the culture of this company to give back. We value literacy,” said Lisa Hanson, Capstone’s director of human resources and community giving.

Capstone donates 200,000 books a year to various entities, including a 10,000-book donation in March to Books for Africa, a St. Paul nonprofit that since 1988 has shipped more than 20 million school and community library books to 45 African nations.

“Two to three libraries, at least, will benefit from this donation. We’re looking at this to be a great example for other publishers to follow,” Books for Africa Executive Director Patrick Plonski said of Capstone’s largesse.

Books for Africa President-Elect Tom Gitaa said that without such donations, it would be very difficult for African libraries to acquire any books at all.

Africa has a specific need for illustrated low-level reader fiction books about animals and other topics of universal appeal. The 27,000 books have a retail value of $14.99 each.

Capstone Publishers, owned by Bob and Jim Coughlan, is the leading publisher of children’s books for school and public libraries and has a long history of philanthropy.

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