How do you acquire the funds for your work?  Do you accept individual contributions?
 		  

Access to Ideas is supported by individual contributions.  The strength of the program has been that each library represents the heartfelt caring of so many people coming together to help us.  In Russia, that fact has had more impact than any other.
     Access to Ideas is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Financial contributions are tax deductible.  Contributions can be made by check or money order and should be made out to "Access to Ideas".  Please go to our Contact Us page for address information.
     It is also possible to support our work by the purchase of either of the two books shown at the bottom of our Home Page.  All of the publisher's proceeds from the sale of these books goes towards the library work.
     In the United States, Access to Ideas provides talks on the library projects, as well as on the journeys through the villages.  These talks are a further way we make our work known and fund it.
 

  
     

How do you decide where to do a library?  

We purposely work in remote areas not reached by larger organizations (simply because it is more costly and time consuming to reach these areas).  However, the joy of our work has been in getting to these rural areas where new books are scarce, and greatly valued and welcomed.  We go to areas where we have contacts with either family or friends who are willing to house us and help in the mechanics of purchasing and transporting the books.  Thanks to the generosity of our Russian friends, we are able to keep our costs down.  We also are able to assess, through them, whether or not there is a great enough need in their area to justify a library project.  Living in the villages also enables us to establish a warm relationship with the villagers and share the wealth of their customs and lives more broadly with people in America.

 		  
     

Do you accept contributions of new or used books?  

We do not, for several reasons.  1.) By purchasing books in Russia we are helping the local merchants and increasing the worth (by helping more people) of the financial contributions made to us.  2.)  The cost of even the finest quality books in Russia is far less than the cost of books sold in the United States.  Thus, we can make the dollars donated to us go much further by purchasing the books in Russia.  3.) We need books written in the Russian language.  4.) The cost of shipping books could be far better spent on buying books in Russia.
 		  
     

How did your work get started?
 		  

Please refer to the About Us page on this website.  

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