How to host a Book Drive in 5 easy steps

Books have a special way of bringing people together.

Many of us have books on our shelves that we’ve loved, finished reading and promised ourselves we will donate one day. They’re the books we would happily recommend to a friend, lend to a neighbour or pass on to someone looking for their next great read.

A Book Drive is part book swap, part fundraiser and a simple way to bring people together around a shared love of reading. It's a chance to pass on books you've loved, discover new reads and turn a pile of well-loved books into support for Oxfam's work.

1. Sign up and get ready to host

Sign up to host a Pass It On: Book Drive and download your digital toolkit.

Inside, you’ll find editable invitations and posters and simple hosting tips.

Everything is designed to help you run a Book Drive that works for you and your community.

2. Invite your friends, colleagues or community group

Choose a date and invite people along.

Book Drives can work almost anywhere. Why not add one to your next workplace lunch break, coffee morning, book club, community group meeting or U3A gathering? If people are already coming together, you’re halfway there.

Use the editable invitations and posters in your toolkit to spread the word. Share them in a WhatsApp group, post them on Facebook, pop one on a noticeboard, or simply mention it over a cuppa.

You might be surprised how quickly people say yes. After all, most of us have a few books we’re ready to pass on.

3. Add a little bookish fun and inspire giving

One simple way to encourage donations is with a Mystery Book Pool. Wrap a few books you’ve enjoyed, add a short clue to each one, and invite people who donate to choose a mystery book to take home. It's a simple way to encourage donations and spark conversations!

Need inspiration? When you sign up to host a Pass It On: Book Drive, you'll receive a Mystery Book Pool Guide packed with ideas and examples.

The Mystery Book Pool is just one way to add a little extra personality to your Book Drive. You could also try a book quiz, book bingo, or simply create a space for people to swap reading recommendations over a cup of tea.

Small touches like these can help spark conversations, encourage donations and make your Book Drive memorable for your guests.

4. Get your books ready

A week or so before your Book Drive, remind everyone to bring along 1 to 3 books they are happy to pass on. They can also bring a wrapped mystery book to add to the pool if they’d like to.

When you sign up to host a Pass It On: Book Drive, you'll receive a personalised fundraising page and QR code to support your fundraising.

5. Host your Book Drive

The hard work is done. Now it's time to welcome everyone and enjoy sharing books, recommendations and reading discoveries together.

Encourage everyone to explore the Mystery Book Pool and see which books spark their curiosity. When people are ready, they can simply scan the QR code to donate to Oxfam and take home a surprise read of their own.

Soon conversations start flowing, from favourite childhood books and charity shop finds to stories that have inspired, challenged or changed the way we see the world.

Once your Book Drive is over, gather up any remaining books then pass them on to your local Oxfam shop or via Donate by Post.

Don't forget to snap a photo and celebrate what you've achieved before letting us know how it went.

Your Book Drive might be over, but the stories continue. The books you've passed on can now be enjoyed by new readers, while your donations help support Oxfam's work around the world.

About the author

Cordelia Au is Community Engagement Fundraising Manager at Oxfam GB.