Associated Students Inc. will provide an opportunity for students to get those old literature class books off the shelves and into the hands of young readers.

In recognition of Black History Month, ASI will be taking donations of new and lightly-used books written by African-American authors to donate to local Sacramento schools. The drive will begin Feb. 1 and run until Feb. 29.

“The idea is to expose the youth to a diverse knowledge base,” Kenny Knodt of ASI said.

The drop box for donations will be located in the Student Life and Service Center, between Mellow Me Out and the Student Store at the University Union. ASI will be accepting books as well as magazines – such as old editions of Jet – that are of appropriate subject matter.

The book drive is open to all students, faculty, clubs, groups and the public.

As thanks for donation, ASI will be offering raffle tickets for each book donated. The raffle tickets will be for a drawing to be conducted in the middle of the month to coincide with Valentine’s Day. The winner of the raffle will receive dinner for two to The Cheesecake Factory and a couple’s massage at Mellow Me Out.

Hours towards ASI Dollars for Organizations and Clubs funding will also be awarded for participation in this event. Student groups will receive an hour of funding for every five books donated.

ASI has decided to withhold determining which schools will receive the books until the drive is complete. However, all appropriate books will go to K-12 schools.

This is the first African-American Author book drive that has been done by ASI, though book drives have been conducted in the past.

Some past book drives have brought in more than 300 books. Knodt believes that this drive may bring in about 150 books.

Derek Fleming can be reached at [email protected]