On April 1st through the 17th, the Emerson Family School will be host a book drive through the United We Read project with United Way of North Central Mississippi in order to encourage reading and literacy among community members.
Nikki Rives, executive director of United Way of North Central Mississippi, said the reason for the book drive is to help encourage and also to provide services and information to the community about reading and literacy. 
“We really want to encourage our community to read and stay literate over the summer,” Rives said.  “The books are given out for free to anyone and everyone who comes to the giveaway in hopes of encouraging literacy. This is our second year, last year being a big success. We collected over 3500 books, and several county and city schools helped us out.” 
Anyone may donate books. Drop off locations include Cadence Bank branches on University Drive and Highway 12, Emerson Family School on South Louisville Street, and United Way office on the third floor of Regions Bank on University drive.
Rives said that any books that are left over are donated to the friends of the library for sale, which helps them to replenish any books that they may need. The children’s books are given to the children’s section of the library to keep.
“We’re collecting books for all ages, from infant to adult fiction or non fiction. Anyone who wants to clean out and get rid of some books may come donate. The books can be gently used or new,” said Rives. 
All books will be accepted with the exclusion of magazines, used activity books or reference books such as encyclopedias or textbooks.
In addition to the book drive, The Great Starkville Giveaway and Fun Day will be held at the Emerson Family School to provide an opportunity for people of all ages to come and select books for free and receive more information about reading and literacy programs.
The event will take place on April 26 from 10 a.m. until noon. 
Rives said there will be activities for children as well as adults at the event. 
“This year since we are doing it at Emerson and we will have a lot more going on,” Rives said. “At Fun Day, we will have several activities such as face painting and there will also be an author there,” she said.
Students at Mississippi State University believe the book drive is a good thing to have in the area of community outreach as well. 
Luke Millhouse, freshman golf management major, said he believes the program the program will be successful. 
“I think the book drive is a good idea because being a student here at Mississippi State University, I have observed that the literacy level of younger children has much room for improvement,” Millhouse said. “This would benefit the children because they don’t have to go out and buy books. When I was a child, I know I didn’t want to go out to the store and just buy a book. Usually I wanted to look for things that were fun to do and interesting to me. For most little kids, books aren’t on the top of that list. However, the fun day and the book drive, which both involve many younger children getting together for a common purpose, reading, will be a positive experience.”
All community members are encouraged to participate and help literacy here in Starkville.  
For additional information about the United We Read Project, contact the offices of the United Way of North Central Mississippi at 662-323-3830.