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'''Better World Books''' is an American online bookseller of used and new books, founded in 2002 by students of the [[University of Notre Dame]], Indiana.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/annefield/2013/05/04/secrets-of-a-successful-social-enterprise/|title=Secrets of a Successful Social Enterprise|work=Forbes|accessdate=September 18, 2013|author=Anne Field|date=May 4, 2013}}</ref> |
'''Better World Books''' (also known as Qumpus, Inc.) is an American online bookseller of used and new books, founded in 2002 by students of the [[University of Notre Dame]], Indiana.<ref name="Forbes">{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/annefield/2013/05/04/secrets-of-a-successful-social-enterprise/|title=Secrets of a Successful Social Enterprise|work=Forbes|accessdate=September 18, 2013|author=Anne Field|date=May 4, 2013}}</ref> |
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Better World Books' used book inventory comes primarily from regular book drives at over 1,800 colleges and universities and donations from over 3,000 library systems, in addition to donation boxes found on corners and on college campuses.<ref name="Huffington Post">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristi-york-wooten/love-to-read-help-kids-wh_b_927110.html|title=Can Buying a Book Help Kids and the Environment?|author=Kristi York Wooten|publisher=Huffington Post|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=August 16, 2011}}</ref> The company has distribution warehouses in [[Mishawaka|Mishawaka, Indiana]]; [[Reno, Nevada]]; and [[Dunfermline]], [[Scotland]].<ref name="Forbes"/><ref name="SouthBend Tribune">{{cite web|url=http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2013-05-26/business/39544178_1_better-world-books-xavier-helgesen-kreece-fuchs|title=A decade's worth of doing good|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=May 26, 2013|publisher=SouthBend Tribune|author=Gene Stowe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010144050/http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2013-05-26/business/39544178_1_better-world-books-xavier-helgesen-kreece-fuchs|archive-date=October 10, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="reno">{{cite news|url=http://www.rgj.com/story/money/business/2016/01/14/better-world-books-opens-reno-distribution-center-bringing-100-jobs/78802276/|title=Better World Books opens Reno distribution center, bringing 150 jobs|author=Jason Hidalgo|date=January 14, 2016|accessdate=January 11, 2017|newspaper=[[Reno Gazette-Journal]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]}}</ref> |
Better World Books' used book inventory comes primarily from regular book drives at over 1,800 colleges and universities and donations from over 3,000 library systems, in addition to donation boxes found on corners and on college campuses.<ref name="Huffington Post">{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristi-york-wooten/love-to-read-help-kids-wh_b_927110.html|title=Can Buying a Book Help Kids and the Environment?|author=Kristi York Wooten|publisher=Huffington Post|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=August 16, 2011}}</ref> The company has distribution warehouses in [[Mishawaka|Mishawaka, Indiana]]; [[Reno, Nevada]]; [[York, Pennsylvania]]; and [[Dunfermline]], [[Scotland]].<ref name="Forbes"/><ref name="SouthBend Tribune">{{cite web|url=http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2013-05-26/business/39544178_1_better-world-books-xavier-helgesen-kreece-fuchs|title=A decade's worth of doing good|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=May 26, 2013|publisher=SouthBend Tribune|author=Gene Stowe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151010144050/http://articles.southbendtribune.com/2013-05-26/business/39544178_1_better-world-books-xavier-helgesen-kreece-fuchs|archive-date=October 10, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="reno">{{cite news|url=http://www.rgj.com/story/money/business/2016/01/14/better-world-books-opens-reno-distribution-center-bringing-100-jobs/78802276/|title=Better World Books opens Reno distribution center, bringing 150 jobs|author=Jason Hidalgo|date=January 14, 2016|accessdate=January 11, 2017|newspaper=[[Reno Gazette-Journal]]|publisher=[[Gannett Company]]}}</ref> |
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==History== |
==History== |
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In 2003, the three entered their business plan into the Notre Dame Social Venture Business Plan Competition, which was sponsored by the Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Notre Dame's [[Mendoza College of Business]].<ref name="Notre Dame Business"/> They won the competition, with a grand prize of $7,000 and mentorship from entrepreneur David Murphy.<ref name="Notre Dame Business"/> Murphy served as Better World Books president and CEO from 2004 to 2011, before leaving to direct Notre Dame's Master of Entrepreneurship program (ESTEEM).<ref name="SouthBend Tribune"/><ref name="Notre Dame Business"/><ref>{{cite web|title=David Murphy Biography|url=http://esteem.nd.edu/about-master-of-entrepreneurship-program/staff-directory/david-murphy-biography/|website= ESTEEM (Engineering, Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Excellence Master's Program). esteem.nd.edu|publisher=University of Notre Dame|accessdate=15 October 2014}}</ref> |
In 2003, the three entered their business plan into the Notre Dame Social Venture Business Plan Competition, which was sponsored by the Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Notre Dame's [[Mendoza College of Business]].<ref name="Notre Dame Business"/> They won the competition, with a grand prize of $7,000 and mentorship from entrepreneur David Murphy.<ref name="Notre Dame Business"/> Murphy served as Better World Books president and CEO from 2004 to 2011, before leaving to direct Notre Dame's Master of Entrepreneurship program (ESTEEM).<ref name="SouthBend Tribune"/><ref name="Notre Dame Business"/><ref>{{cite web|title=David Murphy Biography|url=http://esteem.nd.edu/about-master-of-entrepreneurship-program/staff-directory/david-murphy-biography/|website= ESTEEM (Engineering, Science & Technology Entrepreneurship Excellence Master's Program). esteem.nd.edu|publisher=University of Notre Dame|accessdate=15 October 2014}}</ref> |
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[[File:Betterworldbooksjpg.jpg|left|thumb|Sign outside the Better World Books world headquarters in Mishawaka, Indiana]] |
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Better World Books acquired a [[Small Business Administration|US Small Business Administration]]-backed credit line in 2004.<ref name="CNN Living"/> In April 2008, Better World Books secured an additional $4.5 million in [[venture capital]] via Good Capital, LLC and 18 private investors.<ref name="CS Wire">{{cite web|url=http://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/15390|title=Good-Capital-s-Social-Enterprise-Expansion-Fund-to-Invest-Up-to-2-5-Million-in-Better-World-Books|accessdate=July 17, 2014|date=April 7, 2008|author=Good Capital, LLC |
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⚫ | Better World Books acquired a [[Small Business Administration|US Small Business Administration]]-backed credit line in 2004.<ref name="CNN Living"/> In April 2008, Better World Books secured an additional $4.5 million in [[venture capital]] via Good Capital, LLC and 18 private investors.<ref name="CS Wire">{{cite web|url=http://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/15390|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141114191549/http://www.csrwire.com/press_releases/15390|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 14, 2014|title=Good-Capital-s-Social-Enterprise-Expansion-Fund-to-Invest-Up-to-2-5-Million-in-Better-World-Books|accessdate=July 17, 2014|date=April 7, 2008|author=Good Capital, LLC}}</ref> |
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In 2008, the company opened an operation in Dunfermline, Scotland, and started a [[United Kingdom|UK]] website in 2010.<ref name="ITPro">{{cite web|url=http://www.itproportal.com/2010/12/09/responsible-book-seller-goes-scotland/|title='Responsible' book seller opens UK online shop|date=December 9, 2010|publisher=IT Pro Portal|accessdate=September 22, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Internet Retailer2">{{cite web|url=http://www.internetretailer.com/2010/12/08/better-world-books-opens-e-commerce-site-britain|title=Better World Books opens an e-commerce site in Britain|author=Zak Stambor|date=December 8, 2010|accessdate=September 22, 2013|publisher=Internet Retailer}}</ref><ref name=eCommerce>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abn/y10/m12/i09/s03|title=Better World Books Launches Site in UK|accessdate=September 22, 2013|author=Ina Steiner|date=December 9, 2010|publisher=eCommerce Bytes}}</ref><ref name="UK Fundraising">{{cite web|title=Better World Books launches UK retail website|date=December 8, 2010|publisher=UK Fundraising|url=http://www.fundraising.co.uk/news/2010/12/08/better-world-books-launches-uk-retail-website|accessdate=September 22, 2013}}</ref><ref name="The Bookseller">{{cite web|url=http://www.thebookseller.com/news/better-world-books-launches-uk-site.html|title=Better World Books launches UK site|author=Charlotte Williams|date=September 12, 2012|accessdate=September 22, 2013|publisher=The Bookseller}}</ref> In 2016, the company opened a new distribution center in |
In 2008, the company opened an operation in Dunfermline, Scotland, and started a [[United Kingdom|UK]] website in 2010.<ref name="ITPro">{{cite web|url=http://www.itproportal.com/2010/12/09/responsible-book-seller-goes-scotland/|title='Responsible' book seller opens UK online shop|date=December 9, 2010|publisher=IT Pro Portal|accessdate=September 22, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Internet Retailer2">{{cite web|url=http://www.internetretailer.com/2010/12/08/better-world-books-opens-e-commerce-site-britain|title=Better World Books opens an e-commerce site in Britain|author=Zak Stambor|date=December 8, 2010|accessdate=September 22, 2013|publisher=Internet Retailer}}</ref><ref name=eCommerce>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecommercebytes.com/cab/abn/y10/m12/i09/s03|title=Better World Books Launches Site in UK|accessdate=September 22, 2013|author=Ina Steiner|date=December 9, 2010|publisher=eCommerce Bytes}}</ref><ref name="UK Fundraising">{{cite web|title=Better World Books launches UK retail website|date=December 8, 2010|publisher=UK Fundraising|url=http://www.fundraising.co.uk/news/2010/12/08/better-world-books-launches-uk-retail-website|accessdate=September 22, 2013}}</ref><ref name="The Bookseller">{{cite web|url=http://www.thebookseller.com/news/better-world-books-launches-uk-site.html|title=Better World Books launches UK site|author=Charlotte Williams|date=September 12, 2012|accessdate=September 22, 2013|publisher=The Bookseller}}</ref> In 2016, the company opened a new distribution center in |
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The non-profit [[B Lab]] has certified "Better World Books" as a "[[B corporation (certification)|B corporation]]", meaning it meets certain standards for social welfare, because it donates books or a percentage of its profit to literacy programs around the world.<ref name="Wall Street Journal2">{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203413304577088604063391944|title=New Legal Structures for 'Social Entrepreneurs'|author=Kyle Westaway|publisher=Wall Street Journal|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=December 2, 2011}}</ref> As of 2013, the company had donated an estimated $14 million under this program.<ref name="Forbes"/> |
The non-profit [[B Lab]] has certified "Better World Books" as a "[[B corporation (certification)|B corporation]]", meaning it meets certain standards for social welfare, because it donates books or a percentage of its profit to literacy programs around the world.<ref name="Wall Street Journal2">{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203413304577088604063391944|title=New Legal Structures for 'Social Entrepreneurs'|author=Kyle Westaway|publisher=Wall Street Journal|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=December 2, 2011}}</ref> As of 2013, the company had donated an estimated $14 million under this program.<ref name="Forbes"/> |
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In March 2019, Better World Books announced the closure of their last retail location in [[Goshen, Indiana|Goshen]], Indiana. |
In March 2019, Better World Books announced the closure of their last retail location in [[Goshen, Indiana|Goshen]], Indiana. This was done in order for the organisation to improve its e-commerce operations and reach more people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/foodforthought/better-world-books-closes-its-last-retail-location-to-focus/article_47cbb982-edcb-5225-be0d-b5347c36ea3f.html|title=Better World Books closes its last retail location to focus on e-commerce|last=Columnist|first=Marshall V. King Tribune|website=South Bend Tribune|language=en|access-date=2019-07-29}}</ref> |
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⚫ | The company discloses information about funds raised, books re-used or recycled, and books donated in a ticker on its "Impact" page.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://about.betterworldbooks.com/impact/| title=Our Impact| accessdate=August 9, 2021| website=Better World Books}}</ref><ref name="University Daily Kansan">{{cite web|url=http://kansan.com/news/2013/08/29/students-help-fight-illiteracy-through-online-book-vendor/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130919011614/http://kansan.com/news/2013/08/29/students-help-fight-illiteracy-through-online-book-vendor/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 19, 2013|title=Students help fight illiteracy through online book vendor|author=Ashley Booker|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=August 29, 2013|publisher=[[The University Daily Kansan]]}}</ref><ref name="Internet Retailer">{{cite web|url=http://www.internetretailer.com/2011/11/30/broader-mission|title=A broader mission|author=Zak Stambor|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=November 30, 2011|publisher=Internet Retailer}}</ref> |
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⚫ | As of 2019, Better World Books handled about 30 million incoming books per year, of which ten were sold and ten donated to partners. |
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⚫ |
The company discloses information about funds raised, books re-used or recycled, and books donated in a ticker |
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⚫ |
As of 2019, Better World Books |
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On November 6, 2019, Better World Books was acquired by Better World Libraries, a mission-aligned, not-for-profit organization that is affiliated with longtime partner, the [[Internet Archive]]. The plan is to digitize many more books and put them online.<ref> |
On November 6, 2019, Better World Books was acquired by Better World Libraries, a mission-aligned, not-for-profit organization that is affiliated with longtime partner, the [[Internet Archive]]. The plan is to digitize many more books and put them online.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mike |date=2019-11-06 |title=For the Love of Literacy–Better World Books and the Internet Archive Unite to Preserve Millions of Books |url=https://blog.betterworldbooks.com/love-of-literacy/ |access-date=2024-03-09 |website=Better World Books Blog |language=en-US}}</ref> Between July 2019 and March 2020, Better World Books donated over 700,000 books (counted by distinct [[ISBN]]) to the Internet Archive.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/bookdonationsfrombetterworldbooks|title=Book Donations from Better World Books|author=Internet Archive|quote=<nowiki> ia search -f isbn "collection:bookdonationsfrombetterworldbooks" | jq ".isbn | .[]" | cut -f2 -d'"' | sort -u | grep -c ^978 |
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761436</nowiki>|access-date=2020-03-20}}</ref> Over 1.4 million books were donated in 2020 and nearly a million in the first half of 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/bookdonationsfrombetterworldbooks|title=Book Donations from Better World Books|author=Internet Archive|quote=<nowiki>$ ia search -f isbn 'collection:bookdonationsfrombetterworldbooks addeddate:[2020-01-01 TO 2020-12-31]' | jq ".isbn | .[]" | cut -f2 -d'"' | sort -u | grep -c ^978 |
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1430873</nowiki>|access-date=2021-05-31}}</ref> |
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==Partners== |
==Partners== |
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* [[Worldfund]] – which provides resources to improve English-language skills in Latin America.<ref name="Forbes"/><ref name="Dartmouth News">{{cite web|url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2007/06/21.html|title=Dartmouth-based partnership aims to help English teaching in Latin America|author=Rebecca Bailey|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=June 21, 2007|publisher=Dartmouth News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606012316/http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2007/06/21.html|archive-date=June 6, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
* [[Worldfund]] – which provides resources to improve English-language skills in Latin America.<ref name="Forbes"/><ref name="Dartmouth News">{{cite web|url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2007/06/21.html|title=Dartmouth-based partnership aims to help English teaching in Latin America|author=Rebecca Bailey|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=June 21, 2007|publisher=Dartmouth News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606012316/http://www.dartmouth.edu/~news/releases/2007/06/21.html|archive-date=June 6, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
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* Prison Book Project – a [[Quincy, Massachusetts]]-based nonprofit, which provides inmates with books and legal resources.<ref name=JSONS>{{cite web|url=http://www.jsons.org/boston/prison-book-program-collects-books-for-prisoners-nationwide-1.2506897#.UjntZhb4vph|title=Prison Book Program collects books for prisoners nationwide|author=Jamie Reysen|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=October 1, 2009|publisher=JSONS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215552/http://www.jsons.org/boston/prison-book-program-collects-books-for-prisoners-nationwide-1.2506897#.UjntZhb4vph|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Boston.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2010/11/the_great_american_book_drive.html|title=The Great American Book Drive|accessdate=September 18, 2013|author=Dara Olmsted|publisher=Boston|date=November 5, 2010|url-status=dead|archivedate=April 16, 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416004925/http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2010/11/the_great_american_book_drive.html}}</ref><ref name="Boston.com2">{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/yourtown/quincy/articles/2012/06/10/quincys_prison_book_program_celebrates_40_years_of_sending_reading_761436material_to_inmates/|title=Helping inmates roam world of words|publisher=Boston|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=June 10, 2012|author=Emily Sweeney}}</ref> |
* Prison Book Project – a [[Quincy, Massachusetts]]-based nonprofit, which provides inmates with books and legal resources.<ref name=JSONS>{{cite web|url=http://www.jsons.org/boston/prison-book-program-collects-books-for-prisoners-nationwide-1.2506897#.UjntZhb4vph|title=Prison Book Program collects books for prisoners nationwide|author=Jamie Reysen|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=October 1, 2009|publisher=JSONS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215552/http://www.jsons.org/boston/prison-book-program-collects-books-for-prisoners-nationwide-1.2506897#.UjntZhb4vph|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Boston.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2010/11/the_great_american_book_drive.html|title=The Great American Book Drive|accessdate=September 18, 2013|author=Dara Olmsted|publisher=Boston|date=November 5, 2010|url-status=dead|archivedate=April 16, 2012|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120416004925/http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2010/11/the_great_american_book_drive.html}}</ref><ref name="Boston.com2">{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/yourtown/quincy/articles/2012/06/10/quincys_prison_book_program_celebrates_40_years_of_sending_reading_761436material_to_inmates/|title=Helping inmates roam world of words|publisher=Boston|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=June 10, 2012|author=Emily Sweeney}}</ref> |
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* Robinson Community Center – a [[University of Notre Dame]]-affiliated community center, which provides educational opportunities and tutoring services in [[South Bend, Indiana]].<ref name="The Observer">{{cite web|url=http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/news/robinson-center-celebrates-10th-anniversary-1.2004582#.UhtwQRvviSo|title=Robinson Center celebrates 10th anniversary|author=Amanda Gray|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=February 18, 2011|publisher=The Observer}}</ref> |
* Robinson Community Center – a [[University of Notre Dame]]-affiliated community center, which provides educational opportunities and tutoring services in [[South Bend, Indiana]].<ref name="The Observer">{{cite web|url=http://www.ndsmcobserver.com/news/robinson-center-celebrates-10th-anniversary-1.2004582#.UhtwQRvviSo|title=Robinson Center celebrates 10th anniversary|author=Amanda Gray|accessdate=September 18, 2013|date=February 18, 2011|publisher=The Observer}}{{Dead link|date=October 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> |
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* [[National Literacy Trust]] – an independent charity based in London, England, that promotes literacy.<ref name=eCommerce/><ref name="UK Fundraising"/><ref name="The Bookseller"/> |
* [[National Literacy Trust]] – an independent charity based in London, England, that promotes literacy.<ref name=eCommerce/><ref name="UK Fundraising"/><ref name="The Bookseller"/> |
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* [[READ International]] – a charity that aims to improve access to education in East Africa by relocating books which are no longer needed in UK secondary schools to Tanzania.<ref name=eCommerce/><ref name="UK Fundraising"/><ref name="The Bookseller"/> |
* [[READ International]] – a charity that aims to improve access to education in East Africa by relocating books which are no longer needed in UK secondary schools to Tanzania.<ref name=eCommerce/><ref name="UK Fundraising"/><ref name="The Bookseller"/> |
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* The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) – an independent Irish charity which is committed to making sure people with literacy and numeracy difficulties can fully take part in society and have access to learning opportunities that meet their needs.<ref name=eCommerce/><ref name="UK Fundraising"/><ref name="The Bookseller"/> |
* The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) – an independent Irish charity which is committed to making sure people with literacy and numeracy difficulties can fully take part in society and have access to learning opportunities that meet their needs.<ref name=eCommerce/><ref name="UK Fundraising"/><ref name="The Bookseller"/> |
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* [[Internet Archive]] – The Internet Archive and Better World Books announced a new partnership in November, 2019, to digitize books for preservation purposes.<ref>[https://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2019/11/06/love-of-literacy/ "For the Love of Literacy: Better World Books and the Internet Archive Unite to Preserve Millions of Books"], Press release, Nov. 6, 2019.</ref> |
* [[Internet Archive]] – The Internet Archive and Better World Books announced a new partnership in November, 2019, to digitize books for preservation purposes.<ref>[https://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2019/11/06/love-of-literacy/ "For the Love of Literacy: Better World Books and the Internet Archive Unite to Preserve Millions of Books"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004131221/https://blog.betterworldbooks.com/2019/11/06/love-of-literacy/ |date=2022-10-04 }}, Press release, Nov. 6, 2019.</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[AbeBooks]] |
*[[AbeBooks]] |
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*[[Alibris]] |
*[[Alibris]] |
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*[[ |
*[[Momox]] |
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*[[ThriftBooks]] |
*[[ThriftBooks]] |
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*[[List of online booksellers]] |
*[[List of online booksellers]] |
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[[Category:Retail companies established in 2002]] |
[[Category:Retail companies established in 2002]] |
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[[Category:Bookstores established in the 21st century]] |
[[Category:Bookstores established in the 21st century]] |
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[[Category:B Lab-certified corporations]] |
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[[Category:EBay stores]] |
Company type | Private B Corporation |
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Industry | Online bookseller |
Founded | 2002 |
Founder | Christopher “Kreece” Fuchs Xavier Helgesen Jeff Kurtzman |
Headquarters | Mishawaka, Indiana, US |
Revenue | $65 million[1] |
Number of employees | 340[1] |
Parent | Better World Libraries |
Website | betterworldbooks |
Better World Books (also known as Qumpus, Inc.) is an American online bookseller of used and new books, founded in 2002 by students of the University of Notre Dame, Indiana.[1]
Better World Books' used book inventory comes primarily from regular book drives at over 1,800 colleges and universities and donations from over 3,000 library systems, in addition to donation boxes found on corners and on college campuses.[2] The company has distribution warehouses in Mishawaka, Indiana; Reno, Nevada; York, Pennsylvania; and Dunfermline, Scotland.[1][3][4]
In 2001, shortly after their graduation from the University of Notre Dame, Better World Books founders Christopher Fuchs, Xavier Helgesen and Jeff Kurtzman sold their used college textbooks online.[5][6][7] The three then formulated a business plan using their experience selling books online.[5][6][7] In 2002, Fuchs and Helgesen held a book drive benefiting the Robinson Community Learning Center in South Bend, Indiana.[5][6][7] During the drive, they collected and sold 2,000 books, which raised $10,000.[5][6][7] Half of the drive's proceeds went to support literacy initiatives at the community center.[1]
In 2003, the three entered their business plan into the Notre Dame Social Venture Business Plan Competition, which was sponsored by the Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business.[6] They won the competition, with a grand prize of $7,000 and mentorship from entrepreneur David Murphy.[6] Murphy served as Better World Books president and CEO from 2004 to 2011, before leaving to direct Notre Dame's Master of Entrepreneurship program (ESTEEM).[3][6][8]
Better World Books acquired a US Small Business Administration-backed credit line in 2004.[5] In April 2008, Better World Books secured an additional $4.5 million in venture capital via Good Capital, LLC and 18 private investors.[9]
In 2008, the company opened an operation in Dunfermline, Scotland, and started a UK website in 2010.[10][11][12][13][14] In 2016, the company opened a new distribution center in Reno, Nevada, creating 150 new jobs.[4]
The non-profit B Lab has certified "Better World Books" as a "B corporation", meaning it meets certain standards for social welfare, because it donates books or a percentage of its profit to literacy programs around the world.[15] As of 2013, the company had donated an estimated $14 million under this program.[1]
In March 2019, Better World Books announced the closure of their last retail location in Goshen, Indiana. This was done in order for the organisation to improve its e-commerce operations and reach more people.[16]
The company discloses information about funds raised, books re-used or recycled, and books donated in a ticker on its "Impact" page.[17][18][19]
As of 2019, Better World Books handled about 30 million incoming books per year, of which ten were sold and ten donated to partners.
On November 6, 2019, Better World Books was acquired by Better World Libraries, a mission-aligned, not-for-profit organization that is affiliated with longtime partner, the Internet Archive. The plan is to digitize many more books and put them online.[20] Between July 2019 and March 2020, Better World Books donated over 700,000 books (counted by distinct ISBN) to the Internet Archive.[21] Over 1.4 million books were donated in 2020 and nearly a million in the first half of 2021.[22]
Better World Books donates one book to Feed the Children, Books for Africa, or smaller donation recipients for each book sold on BetterWorldBooks.com.[23][24] Better World Books provides additional support to literacy non-profits, including:
ia search -f isbn "collection:bookdonationsfrombetterworldbooks" | jq ".isbn | .[]" | cut -f2 -d'"' | sort -u | grep -c ^978 761436
$ ia search -f isbn 'collection:bookdonationsfrombetterworldbooks addeddate:[2020-01-01 TO 2020-12-31]' | jq ".isbn | .[]" | cut -f2 -d'"' | sort -u | grep -c ^978 1430873