Why does Kate's Kart prefer new books?

Many people have asked why we prefer that donated books are in new condition.  The three main reasons are:

1. While preventing contamination completely is impossible, new books are far less likely to contain the very germs that we are trying to keep out of the hospitals. 
    
2. For some children, the books they receive from Kate's Kart are the only books they own.  The gift of a brand new book reinforces to the child that he or she is special and deserving of a gift that no other child has owned. 
    

3. With over 80 volunteers, and 11 hospitals, maintaining the same high-quality standards at each location requires some level of quality control.  By requesting only new books, we can be assured that our minimum level of quality is being met.

What happens to used books that are donated?

We value every single book that is donated to our organization.

• Very gently used books are placed in the offices of local pediatricians on a Kate's Kart bookshelf.  They are available to the children who are waiting for an appointment to either read and return to the shelf, or take home to keep.
   
• We also place gently used books in emergency room waiting areas for pediatric patients and visitors.
   
• Books that have been "loved" longer are donated to other local charities, including SCAN (Stop Child Abuse and Neglect), Boys & Girls Clubs, ARC and church ministries.