Did you or your children get a stack of new books over the holidays and you need to clear some shelf space? Sonoma County’s Retired and Senior Volunteers (RSVP) is running a book drive through Jan. 18 to help augment the libraries of a number of local agencies and schools serving children.

New and gently used books appropriate for readers in pre-school to middle school are being sought.

Schools that will be given books include Brook Hill, Helen Lehman, Lincoln, Monroe elementary schools and Kid Street charter school. Other programs include Friends Outside, California Parenting Institute, Community Action Partnership Head Start and First Five.

“This is the first time we have really tried to do this,” said Laurie Parish, coordinator for the 700-member RSVP. “We just had a number of agencies that asked for books that they needed for their programs so we said we would give it a try.”

Books can be dropped off at the Volunteer Center at 153 Stony Circle, Ste. 100, Santa Rosa during regular business hours before Monday, Jan. 18. Books will also be accepted at the Community Baptist Church, 1620 Sonoma Ave. between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Jan. 18.

For more information, or to arrange an alternate drop-off schedule, call Parish at 573-3399 ext. 117,or email Parish at lparish@volunteernow.org

For more information on RSVP, click here http://www.volunteernow.org/rsvp.html