BHS students donated more than 1,600 books during the school’s book drive, helping kids across Northeast Ohio get better access to reading.

The drive, run by the library club, collects books for the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank, which gives them to schools, daycares, hospitals and other places that serve children in need.

Adviser Angela Maxwell explained the intention behind the book drive. 

“The goal is to get as many books as possible into the hands of kids,” Maxwell said. “We want to help them find a love for reading, especially if they don’t have many books at home.”

Students dropped off used books in the atrium before and after school. The club asked for books for kids in kindergarten through eighth grade and made sure everything donated was in good condition.

More than 20 teachers offered extra credit to students who donated.

Even though the drive only lasts about a week, the planning starts earlier. Library Club members begin organizing in January by making flyers, talking to teachers and getting everything ready.

After the books are collected, students sort and pack them before bringing them to the book bank. Some club members even go there to volunteer and help get the books ready for kids.

“Literacy is life-changing,” Maxwell said. “Books can open up new worlds for kids.”

Maxwell explained the role that students in the library club play in the book drive. 

“Our library club officers and members lead the effort by recruiting teachers, designing flyers, checking book conditions and logging donations into our spreadsheets,” Maxwell said. 

This year’s book drive was considered a success by the group as they exceeded their recorded number of books collected during last year’s book drive. 

“In 2025, we collected approximately 1600 books, 1400 of those from students,” Maxwell said. “This year my records show 1669 books collected from students and around 50 from other sources.”

Maxwell thanked the BHS community for helping to make the book drive a big success and offered suggestions on how people who are interested can get involved with the club and their initiatives.

“You can help by sharing our club’s flyers, encouraging your teachers to participate and reminding your friends that their old books can give a child a chance to learn and grow,” she said.