More From the Publishing Industry/Libraries

More Ways the Publishing Industry and libraries are aiding victims of Hurricane Katrina -- Nora Roberts is matching dollar for dollar any donations made to Habitat for Humanity, and is also collecting books to donate to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The NAWW will be sending 20% of all revenues generated the month of September to the American Red Cross to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. When you renew/join the NAWW or purchase any NAWW product or service this month, know that 20% of these revenues will be forwarded to the Red Cross. If you have any questions at all about the donations, don’t hesitate to contact their office. 1-866-821-5829 (Toll Free) or naww@onebox.com

The American Library Association (ALA) has information posted on their website concerning libraries and hurricane Katrina, with status reports from libraries across the affected areas, along with some requests identifying libraries' greatest needs [e.g. the state library of Louisiana really needs printers and computers to help evacuees search for information and print and file assistance forms.

Random House said it was donating $500,000 to the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund and will match employee contributions to "qualified relief aid organizations." Random House Children’s Books is donating 250,000 copies of their titles to First Book, "the great organization which is distributing reading to kids in the hardest-hit areas." In addition, parent company Bertelsmann's CEO, Gunther Thielen, announced this morning that they will donate an additional $500,000 to the Red Cross Relief Aid Fund.

First Book is "providing books to children affected by Hurricane Katrina. Every $5 donated to First Book will be matched with 1 book that will go to children in the devastated areas."

Simon & Schuster says they are "planning on making a substantial donation of books for the benefit of individuals and institutions affected by the Hurricane and flood."

RWA member Toni Causey of Baton Rouge is coordinating efforts to distribute books to shelters in the area, including the Baton Rouge River Center, where an estimated 45,000 people are sheltering. Write toni.causey@gmail.com for shipping details. The Louisiana Library Association
can also direct you to other shelters in the Baton Rouge area asking for book donations [office@llaonline.org].

The Louisiana Library Association has set up a Disaster Relief Fund, soliciting cash donations to "assist school, public, and academic library restoration efforts in southeastern Louisiana." The address is listed on their web site.

Houston Borders and Waldenbooks will serve as collection points for book donations for those currently housed in the Astrodome, to be delivered to the center every Saturday. Contact/delivery:

Operation Books for Refugees from Katrina
c/o Borders Books
3025 Kirby
Houston, TX 77098
713.524.0200

The Texas Library Associationis collecting financial donations, which can be earmarked for libraries in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.

The Romance Club has set up a Hurricane Relief fund specifically for the romance community.

Primer Publishers is working to compile a library for displaced people housed at Arizona's Veteran's Coliseum. Contact bill@primerpublishers.com.

The Child Rescue Foundation in Colorado is collecting children's books and educational materials only. Contact childrescue97984@aol.com.