Before you ask for 40 books for an adult literacy program, decide what you want those 40 books to do. A shelf for independent reading needs choices someone can browse and take home. A tutor may need a shorter text that two people can discuss in one session. If a room serves both purposes, give each a place in the order.

Ask readers what they would take home

Bring a few books to a session and give learners a chance to look through them. A mystery, a short biography and an illustrated guide to a hobby give people different starting points. Ask which one they would borrow and what else they would look for. Invite private feedback, too. Someone may be more comfortable pointing to a book or jotting down a subject than explaining their reading choices in front of the group.

The Toronto Public Library's adult literacy collections include leisure reading alongside practical and instructional material. The American Library Association's literacy toolkit asks libraries to review both what they have for adult learners and whom their programs are missing. Those are useful checks when deciding where a small first order would make a difference.

Open the book before judging its level

Look at two or three representative pages, including one from the middle. A slim paperback can still have dense pages or a story that jumps between several narrators. Look for chapter breaks, readable type and enough context to follow the text. If you are choosing illustrated nonfiction, check whether the pictures help explain what the words describe.

Some suppliers use the term high interest, low reading level, or hi-lo, for books designed to pair appealing subjects with accessible text. The Good Reads collection at Trent Hills Public Library shows what that can look like, with short chapters and straightforward vocabulary in books for adult readers. Ask for sample pages or a small selection of example titles before relying on a category label. If your program follows a specific reading scale, name it in the request.

Write down the choices you want the supplier to preserve

Here is a sample request for one room. The quantities are illustrative. Adjust them after you have seen what learners choose and what is already on the shelf.

  • 16 short stories and short novels across several genres, with adult subjects and frequent chapter breaks.
  • 12 practical or hobby books with clear layouts. For example, ask for cooking, gardening or home repair if those subjects came up in your sessions.
  • 8 biographies or true stories with readable type and manageable sections.
  • 4 copies reserved for tutor use, with duplicate titles allowed only if tutors request them for paired reading.

List the language or languages you need. Tell the supplier which categories are flexible and which changes need your approval. For instance, you might accept another short biography but want to approve any substitution that changes the reading level. For practical books where instructions can age, specify how current the information needs to be.

Agree on condition and check the first order

Decide what marks or wear you can accept. A rubbed cover may be fine for a lending shelf. Missing pages or a practice book with answers already filled in can spoil the intended use. Our guide to checking used book condition gives you more details you can put in the request.

If you are buying for several branches, start by asking for a proposed selection for one location or by giving the supplier a short brief for each site. After the first books arrive, ask learners what they found worth taking home and what they still could not find. Use that feedback to decide what to add at the next location.

To discuss a purchase, send Sustainable Books your bulk book requirements. Include the subjects, sample titles or reading levels, language, quantity, condition preferences, budget, location and timing. We will check what we can source and discuss a selection and quote with you before you commit.