Sony Electronics Supports South Africa Mobile Library Project With National Book Collection Program Through its Take Back Network

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Nov 01, 2012, 08:30 ET

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Electronics today rolled out a national book collection program to benefit the South Africa Mobile Library Project, a part of the South African Department of Education's efforts to improve literacy levels across the country.

Sony has established an external support network of key recycling vendors from its Take Back Recycling program to enable public donations of gently used children's books around the country through the month of November. The project's recycling partners, its public collection locations and operating hours are listed at www.sony.com/ecotrade.

Collection duration: Nov. 1 – Nov 30, 2012

Needed: English language children's books for elementary age to 14 years, including current children's reference books and encyclopedias.

Participating locations at: www.sony.com/ecotrade

Sony companies around the world have been supporting the project since 2008. Sony companies in English-speaking countries, namely Sony UK, Sony Australia, Sony New Zealand, Sony Hong Kong, Sony Singapore, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Canada, Sony Electronics, Sony South Africa and Sony Corporation of America called upon employees to donate English children's books. The Mobile Library currently carries over 100,000 books donated by Sony Group around the world. For more, visit http://www.sony.net/library/

About "South Africa Mobile Library Project"

South Africa Japan South Africa

The mobile libraries visit the recipient schools twice every school term (the South African school year is divided into four terms) to loan and collect books. Librarians travel onboard the vehicles, and advise teachers at the schools how to select the appropriate books and use them in their lessons. As a result, not only do the children gain an opportunity to interact with a diverse range of books, but teachers are also able to learn how to utilize the materials, and maximize their potential.

About SAPESI (South Africa Primary Education Support Initiative)
SAPESI is a South African non-profit organization that has jointly overseen the "South Africa Mobile Library Project" with the South African Department of Education since the project's launch in 2005. A Japanese non-governmental organization has been sending mobile libraries and books, and SAPESI began to administer the acquisition and transportation of mobile library vehicles since 2007. It is a recipient of Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects from the Embassy of Japan in South Africa, and with support from the Society for Promotion of Japanese Diplomacy (SPJD) it continues to acquire and transport used mobile libraries to South Africa. SAPESI is also involved in the collection of books for use in the mobile libraries, albeit on a limited scale.

SOURCE Sony Electronics