Iowa’s Biggest Book Sale is dedicated to empowering our community through the transformative power of reading and philanthropy.
Our mission is to minimize waste by recycling books and converting them into opportunities that fund the education, health, and empowerment of women in our community.
The purpose of Iowa’s Biggest Book Sale is to empower our community to make a difference through the power of reading and giving back. Our vision is to reduce waste by recycling books and transforming them into opportunities to raise funds to support the education, health, and empowerment of women within the community.
We strive to create a sustainable cycle where every book sold not only finds a new home but also contributes to meaningful causes in our community. By promoting literacy and encouraging reading, we aim to foster a culture of knowledge and empathy, enriching lives one page at a time.
In 1961, volunteers at Planned Parenthood of Iowa started a book sale with the goal of raising funds to support the organization and its mission. Over the years, the book sale grew, becoming a popular event within the Des Moines area. The book sale raised significant funds for Planned Parenthood of Iowa, the organization of which it was a part.
Recently, Planned Parenthood’s priorities have shifted as the organization has regionalized, and the nonprofit made the decision to no longer host the book sale.
A core group of book sale volunteers came together to launch a new nonprofit, Iowa’s Biggest Book Sale (IBBS), to continue the book sale tradition. IBBS has secured space for its operations and is receiving and processing in-kind donations, all to provide a Semi-Annual Book Sale back to the Central Iowa Community.
As the newly independent nonprofit sought a long-term beneficiary, IBBS wanted to find an organization that aligned with their commitment to raising funds to support the education, health, and empowerment of women within the community. After considering which Central Iowa nonprofits focused on this goal, IBBS selected Young Women’s Resource Center (YWRC) as its potential partner.
YWRC provides a wide variety of programs for girls and young women ages 10-24 that help them gain confidence by providing them with effective problem-solving and coping skills so they can make informed decisions in their future. Programs include after-school groups, counseling services, and support for young moms. YWRC programs are centered on building resiliency, confidence, positive relationships, and healthy decision making
Join us in building a stronger community, one book at a time. We collect gently used books and sell them at affordable prices. All proceeds support our community, providing vital resources to individuals and families in need. Your support helps us empower lives through literacy and opportunity.