TOPEKA -- The Kansas Book Festival reports volunteers have completed the book drive conducted in conjunction with the its annual festival held in September.

After collecting more than 5,000 books in August and September, Festival committee members delivered them to 29 locations throughout Kansas from Atwood to Iola, and Sabetha to Jetmore.
The Topeka Boy Scouts assisted with the collection of the books.

"We are grateful to all donors for their support of the book drive and the Kansas Book Festival," First Lady Mary Brownback, Chair of the Kansas Book Festival Committee, said. "We hope that next year's event will be just as successful."

The Festival donated the books to school libraries, public libraries, assisted living facilities, and other non-profit organizations.

In conjunction with Governor Sam Brownback’s initiative to improve the percentage of fourth-grade students reading at or above grade level, the First Lady created an annual book festival for the state of Kansas. The 2013 Kansas Book Festival will be held Saturday, September 7th.

For more information about the book drive, event information, or to contribute to the Kansas Book Festival, please visit http://kansasbookfestival.com/.