Bridge to Asia -- Mission

Are you still accepting books?

Yes, absolutely, as we have been for 22 years.

What do you take?

College-level books, journals, monographs, databases, reference works, magazines, art and museum catalogs, sheet music, maps, and teaching aids, used and new, in all fields and subjects, in English and all other languages.

How does it work?

First, check the Website or contact us directly to confirm that your books match the needs.

Next, ship or deliver your books to San Francisco, Chicago, or Los Angeles.

Finally, contact us after you make your donation, and we will send you a formal acknowledgment and IRS form for claiming your tax benefit.

How should I pack them?

Use sturdy cartons and pack them solidly (loosely packed boxes may burst during shipping). Stack your books on their sides like bricks, at both ends of the carton; please don't pack them not on their spines. Fill spaces with newspaper or small paperbacks, tape the carton shut and address it to Bridge to Asia. If you are sending multiple cartons, please label them 1/X ... X/X.

Do you pay for shipping?

We ask donors to bear those costs. However, your expenses for packing and shipping are tax deductible, together with the value of your books, as at least some compensation for your gift.

Where do I send them?

Bridge to Asia
MEB Distributing
25014 Viking Street
Hayward, CA 94545-2704
or
Bridge to Asia
Follett Higher Education Group
8950 West Palmer Street
River Grove, IL 60171
or
Bridge to Asia
Round the World, USA
1440 Francisco Street
Torrance, CA 90501-1313

Do you pick up?

Yes, when there are 7,500 or more books.

Can I drop them off?

Yes. In the Bay Area, you may take your books to our Hayward warehouse or to the Stanford University Campums Bookstore.

The Hayward facility accepts walk-in donation Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Stanford Bookstore accepts donations from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. seven days a week. You may leave your books at the customer service counter (whether or not it is staffed) on the immediate right, under the clock, as you enter the front doors. Please call us in advance with any questions about delivering to the Bookstore, and contact us after you have dropped off your books so we can acknowledge your gift.

If you are in the Chicago area and wish to deliver your books - or if you are shipping them by motor freight from the East Coast or Midwest - you may use the River Grove facility generously provided by the Follett Higher Education Group, at the address above.

The Follett facility is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please call Dave Lim at 1-800-322-6223 to arrange a drop-off time. Again, this facility does not issue receipts, so after delivering your books please contact us by email (nxliu@pacbell.net) or phone (415-678-2990), and we will mail a formal acknowledgment and IRS form to you.

In Southern California, you may ship to or drop off at

Bridge to Asia
Round the World, USA
1440 Francisco Street
Torrance, CA 90501-1313

The warehouse is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please call Vivian Wu at 310-781-7899 to arrange a time for delivery. Like those above, this facility does not issue receipts, so please contact us by email (nxliu@pacbell.net) or phone (415-678-2990), and we will send you an acknowledgment and an IRS form.

Do you need a list of my books?

No, but you should keep one for your records in the event you ever need to document your gift.

What are my books worth?

We are not permitted to help with appraisals but know that some donors have used prices from Amazon.com, and others have claimed $1 per book or journal issue. In cases of substantial donations such as libraries or lengthy journal runs, donors have consulted appraisers.

Where do the books go?

To one or more of 1000 Chinese universities, from Shanghai to Tibet.

Does China censor books?

In our first year, we were asked to list the contents on each carton. From then until now, there have been few restrictions. Even books critical of the government are welcome, provided the level of their scholarship is high.

What does China contribute?

China covers costs of US handling, international shipping, and in-country distribution.

Who supports you?

Funds for our operations have come from foundations, government agencies, corporations and individuals. 5,000 individual and institutional donors have given nearly 10 million books, more than half of the foreign academic materials acquired by China's universities since the 1980s.

Are you connected to other groups?

We are not affiliated with any group or organization, and have no agenda other than to support the modernization of higher education in China and to promote the sharing of knowledge between East and West.

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