05/19/11 klh

HAYS, KS -- The Fort Hays State University Panhellenic Council conducted a campus-wide book drive during the last two weeks of the Spring 2011 semester.

The Council collected over 500 books to donate to Better World Books, which is located around the country. FHSU faculty, staff, and students were encouraged to donate their textbooks at three different locations around campus. The books were then collected, packed and shipped to the company.

Some of the books will be resold by Better World Book locations around the country and used in classrooms. Those that can't be resold will be donated to overseas countries for literacy programs. The third option for the books donated is for them to be recycled and used for other paper products. By donating these books to Better World Books, it is guaranteed the books are never thrown into a landfill.

"This book drive has been one of the biggest that the Panhellenic Council has ever conducted," said Charles Keefer, graduate assistant for Greek Life and Leadership. "We couldn't have done it without help of our supporters and donators. We would like to thank Bill Smriga, director of Memorial Union, John Ross, director of Forsyth Library, and the Tiger Book Shop for allowing us to place donation bins in their buildings. We would also like to thank everyone that donated especially the Department of Psychology and Dr. Arthur Morin, chair of the Master of Liberal Studies Program."

For the first time as well, the Panhellenic Council and Sigma Tau Delta teamed up to cover more of the campus. Both organizations conducted separated drives that covered more of the FHSU campus.

For more information about Better World Books please visit: www.betterworldbooks.com.