Help spread the love/poetry.

February 5, 2009 11:42 AM

What organizations can you tell me about that would be happy to receive a number of books? The key--they're books of poetry.

I work for Ahsahta Press and we're currently working to digitize our archives and clear ourselves of some back stock. This leaves us with about 35 titles, published between approximately 1974 and 2000. We've got a few of some titles, and plenty of some others.

I realize that there are a lot of organizations out there who are looking for books, but the number of organizations looking for books of poetry seems to be a bit less. Ideally, we'd like to find some groups who will actually be excited to get the books, rather than opening boxes and going "Poetry? Why do we need to poetry?"

Know of one? Work for one? Let me know who they are and I'll look into it.

We ought to be able to pay shipping, so if you think that might be an issue, don't worry about it.

Thanks!

posted by plaingurl to writing & language (8 comments total)

Artist retreats and colonies would love you forever.
posted by jbickers at 11:56 AM on February 5

Dude, if you can pay shipping, reward your past customers. You hav an online catalogue, which implies you make direct sales. Turn this into a customer loyalty-reinforcing opportunity.

(I ordered a CD from J. C. Lockwood's 78s2CD. As the name implies, he copies 78-rpm recordings to compact disks. About a year after receiving my order, I get unsolicited a new package form him. Turns out he re-copied the recording I'd bought, and thought the new version was better. So he sent me the new copy, free, no shipping, it just arrived. Now that builds loyalty. Unfortunately, due to a court ruling, these excellent transfers are no longer available.)
posted by orthogonality at 12:03 PM on February 5

I'm assuming you've already sent everything in your catalog to the University of Arizona Poetry Center? If not, give them a call.
posted by deejay jaydee at 12:18 PM on February 5

Write to prisons and literacy centers in your area. Alternatively, you could ship to The Book Thing of Baltimore, which would probably be happy to distribute your books for you. I'm not officially connected with the organization there, but they do fantastic work.
posted by knile at 12:51 PM on February 5

Better World Books is a cool donation program. They help fund literacy and non-profit programs through online book sales. My library sends everything their FotL bookstore can't use to them. Alternatively, you could distribute them to local libraries and Friends bookstores and they'd maybe eventually wind up with BWB anyway.
posted by carsonb at 1:45 PM on February 5 [1 favorite has favorites]

1st, ask the authors if they'd like the books. They might be able to sell them at readings. Then I'd put a notice on your website offering a free package of poetry.
posted by theora55 at 1:58 PM on February 5

Why not your local libraries?
posted by 7life at 3:25 PM on February 5

Maybe Chicago's Book Bike? Definitely exciting, and he does take donations from publishers.
posted by dizziest at 7:21 PM on February 5