Honors student makes charitable use of unreturnable textbooks

It's an unavoidable problem. At the end of the semester, students approach the book return counter with a backpack full of expensive textbooks. They're hoping to make some money back and leave with an empty bag. But this is rarely the case, and students are often stuck with heavy book bags rather than heavy wallets. Senior Anthony Swirczek found a solution for those annoying unreturnable books.

Swirczek, an honors student, started a textbook collection program at UNO in conjunction with Better World Books, a for-profit social venture that has collected more than three million books since 2001. Better World Books use their funds to pick up the books from UNO and take them to their warehouse. Once in the warehouse, the organization will distribute the books to non-profit organizations around the world and sell them to non-profit literacy programs.

Some of the money raised from these books will go toward a scholarship fund for children in Sri Lanka who were victims of the 2005 tsunami, Swirczek said. The funds are set up to help them after they reach third or fourth grade.

Unfortunately, this roundabout method of donating the books to a non-profit organization is necessary, Swirczek said, as he was unable to locate any non-profit organizations that were willing to pick up the books from UNO.

Since Swirczek is the director of this operation, he will receive 50 cents per book, which he will donate to a local social service organization, the Wesley House, where he is a tutor.

Students are encouraged to "check their closets" for old textbooks, Swirczek said. Collection bins are set up around campus in several locations.

Swirczek said he will be outside of the Milo Bail Student Center during book buy-back week.

"I don't know if I'll be able to keep up with the amount of books that come in [during book buy-back week]," Swirczek said. "But it's a challenge I'm willing to take on."

Novels are also welcome for the book drive, but they are unable to be used by the Better World Books program. They will instead be donated to the Omaha Public Library on 90th and Dodge streets.

Swirczek's program has already had a productive start raising textbooks. 500 textbooks and 300 novels have already been collected.

Swirczek does not act completely alone, and said he could use all the help he can get. He was inspired to start the book drive program after taking honors courses in women's studies and education in the 21st century, he said.

"Those [courses] motivated me to do something on my own to target Southeast Asia," Swirczek said. "Better World Books really focuses on girls' education."

Three sponsors helped Swirczek get started with the program, including Dawn Crite, a professor in Women's Studies, Saundra Wetig, an assistant professor in teacher education, and the Tri Beta national biology honor society. Swirczek said he has also received support from Elaine Lahue, an associate professor of biology, and Christine McIvor, assistant to the director of the Honors Program. Honors student Elizabeth Baxter has also "been a big help getting this program off and running," Swirczek said.

Students interested in helping Swirczek with the Better World Books project can contact the Honors Program at 554-2696.



People editor Jamee Clasen contributed to this report