DALLAS (January 1, 2006)—Half Price Books launched the 8th Annual Half Pint Library Book Drive on January 1, 2005, which will benefit more than 70 Half Pint Libraries established in hospitals, clinics, and community centers across the nation. This three-month book drive, which lasts from January 1 through March 31, provides reading materials for children who must endure long and sometimes uncomfortable hospital stays. This year's "Sprout Hope" campaign, which includes an inverted green ribbon symbolizing new growth, was created to increase awareness of pediatric literacy, and helps children relate to other kids facing long hospital stays or other treatments.

Each year, the program relies on the donations of community members and local schools for books, as patients are encouraged to take the books home after their hospital stay. In addition to asking the community to drop off new and gently used children's books at any of its 84 stores during the three month drive, Half Price Books is currently enrolling "Half Pint Schools" to support the program by hosting book drives at their facilities, from February 6 – 17. To participate, students and teachers simply encourage classmates and staff to donate new or gently used children's books at a designated area in the school during the two-week period, then deliver the books to local Half Price Books stores, so they can be sorted and distributed to the local Half Pint Libraries. The area school that raises the most books will receive a $250 Half Price Books gift certificate to purchase books for their library. Schools may register online, at www.halfpricebooks.com (click on Community Involvement) through February 1.

The Half Pint Libraries provide an escape from the challenges faced by pediatric patients, while helping to boost literacy skills while children are out of school. Additionally, the books at each facility are placed in bright red carts donated by Half Price Books so that they can be brought to children who may have limited mobility. In many cases, children and their siblings are getting their first take-home book through the Half Pint Library program, and books are used in some facilities for speech therapy and as a distraction method by hospital staff during painful procedures.

"We always look forward to the beginning of the year because we get to partner with local schools and communities to provide much-needed books for children in hospitals, said Kathy Doyle Thomas, executive vice president of Half Price Books. "When we talk with Child Life Specialists, who work with these children on a daily basis, we learn that the books really do make a difference to the patients."

Last year, the program raised nearly 350,000 books, with 62,000 books coming from Half Pint Schools. There are Half Pint Libraries in major cities across the nation, with one or more hospital beneficiaries in those cities that are in need of books. The company hopes to extend the joy of reading to even more patients, by surpassing last year's book donations.