Our goal is to develop this into a non-profit venue that will help recycle some of the millions of children's books that are currently out of circulation and get them into the hands of the children who would love to own a book of their very own.

One major reason many good children's books drop out of circulation is because there is more supply than demand.  Quality children's books are reprinted over and over, glutting the bookselling market and 'price-wrecking' the books to the point where it is not worth the time to sell them on the traditional venues, so sellers don't bother to list them.  Our proposed 'Gift Certificate system' would create a new "demand" for price-wrecked books that would give sellers a better return, while at the same time giving children a chance to chose a book for their very own (or own a book that their teacher chooses for them). 

The DonorMart is a venue for free donation and request classified ads for children's books and classroom supplies. Teachers and librarians (and others) can request gift certificates, specific books/items, or general books in a particular subject or reading level. Donors can advertise unneeded/unused books and supplies to be given away across town or around the world. Shipping 'angels' can donate shipping costs for targeted regions or communities, which is the largest expense in many cases.

The GiftGallery is a visual, easy to browse, category organized marketplace where every item costs one Gift Certificate. When a teacher or child receives a gift certificate, they can redeem it for any book on the DonorMart GiftGallery and have it sent to them free.  These are key distinctions, they get to choose their own book and they don't pay any money out of pocket.

This first DonorMart/GiftGallery release is very basic, but it is functional and we hope to improve the system as we get feedback on our Forum.  All comments and suggestions are welcome.  Our ultimate goal is to partner with a literacy group or find a sponsor/buyer who can build on this initial concept and create a venue that will promote literacy around the world.  Give a man a fish and he can eat for a day.  Teach a man to fish and he can eat for a lifetime.  Teach a child to read and they can learn to teach, build and invent ways for everyone to eat for a lifetime.