Saving Books Since 2023
Reducing book waste through curated collections, donations, and community education
Reducing Book Waste
Bookchurch.org is a non-religious, nonprofit founded to reduce book waste both in the publishing industry and in individual donations as a whole.
Curated Donations
We take book donations a step further. By curating collections (based on genres, themes, or conditions) for a specific purpose, donated books are more likely to be utilized and valued.
Education
We go a step beyond, working to seek out organizations and groups who can benefit from a good book donation. Bookchurch has brought cookbooks to cooking schools, music books to shops and private teachers, collected book boxes to be sent to prisons in 7 x states, and assisted larger non-profits to fulfill their needs.Â
Bookchurch.org
Publisher, Louis Force Torres, conceptualized Bookchurch.org when living in Carpinteria, CA 2023.
After donating several boxes of books at a drop-off behind a library, he returned a few weeks later to donate more. The boxes were still there, and had been repeatedly soaked by the fog and dried out by the sun; the books were ruined.
Volunteers at the library were often older, and unable to move the heavy boxes. And Louis offered not only to help them, but also realized that this structure of donations, wasn't working. Dumping boxes at a Goodwill wasn't helping. Donations needed to have a purpose.
His experiences in the Publishing Industry and the Private sectors allowed him insight into new ways to help. And through proactive outreach through his company, Polyverse Publishing, and his bookstore, Lantern Tree Books, Louis was able to find connections in need of books!
Gallery
Donated Books Sorted for Community Distribution
Delivered 6,000 books to ten Santa Barbara schools in 2024 through our partnership with the Santa Barbara Education Foundation.
Donated more than 200 fine art books, including collections focused on artists, artistic movements, and museums, for the center's Art Library.
Provided a wide selection of cooking and recipe books, ranging from contemporary titles to classic and vintage cookbooks.
Contributed assorted books and biographies centered on music, musicians, and music history.
Supplied books covering rock music, drumming, guitar, and other modern music topics.
Donated more than 1,000 bilingual and educational books to support multilingual education programs.
Helped stock library shelves with requested genres while regularly assisting with book loading and distribution.
Provided books for readers of all ages, including biographies celebrating inspiring female role models.
Contributed books to programs serving LA County, San Bernardino FCI-1, Pickaway County Jail, Seattle's Left Bank Books program, and Vermillion County Jail.
Continued supporting neighborhood libraries by filling, organizing, and maintaining Little Libraries throughout the community.
