I have been hosting book fairs for nearly 20 years as the teacher librarian at Van Meter Community School. Over the years, our book fairs have become much more than a school event. They are a favorite tradition for students, teachers, families, and community members, and they play an important role in the fundraising we do for our library each year.
Book fairs encourage reading, build excitement around books, and create opportunities for our school community to support literacy in meaningful ways. They also bring an incredible amount of energy and fun to our library twice a year. Watching students discover new books, create wish lists, and share their excitement with friends and family is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.
For the past several years, we have partnered with Literati Book Fairs. These innovative book fairs offer a fresh approach to literacy-focused fundraising, combining a thoughtfully curated selection of books with flexible rewards for participating schools. Their commitment to promoting a love of reading, while helping schools meet their fundraising goals, has made Literati an excellent fit for our community.
Today, I want to share one of my favorite aspects of hosting a Literati Book Fair: their Profit Rewards program. One of the questions I hear most often from other librarians, educators, and parent groups is how libraries and schools benefit from hosting a Literati Book Fair.
The answer is simple as schools have the opportunity to earn meaningful rewards that can directly support their students, teachers, libraries, and most of all, our readers.
In this post, let's take a closer look at Literati's Profit Rewards options, how they work, and some of the amazing partner organizations that help libraries and schools turn their book fair earnings into even more opportunities to support reading and learning. If you're considering hosting a Literati Book Fair or are simply curious about how the rewards program works, you're in the right place, friends.
One of the features that sets Literati apart is its rewards program. The rewards options are better than ever, giving schools more flexibility to choose what works best for their community.
Literati Book Fairs are designed to support literacy while helping libraries and schools raise funds. We host both an in-person and online book fair, and as families purchase books, our school earns rewards based on sales performance. It's a simple way to turn book fair success into meaningful resources that benefit our students, teachers, and the entire school community.
Schools can earn up to 60% back in rewards from eligible sales, and the program is designed to offer choice rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Schools can choose from:
- Book Profit
- Literati Partner Credits
- Cash Rewards
- A combination of all three
This flexibility allows schools to customize its fundraising strategy and invest in the resources that matter most to the students, teachers, library, and school.
For many schools, book profit is the most valuable reward option available. This program allows schools to retain books from the fair and use them to enrich their educational resources in meaningful ways. Schools can update and expand library collections, grow classroom and book club libraries, fulfill teacher wish lists, and support a variety of literacy initiatives.
Because rewards are provided in the form of books, schools can directly connect their fundraising success to increased access to reading materials for students. This makes book profit especially appealing to librarians, teachers, and administrators who want to maximize literacy outcomes while working within budget limitations.
Book profit can help schools:
- Keep collections current with new books, authors, and illustrators
- Refresh outdated or aging library materials
- Add diverse and inclusive titles that reflect a wide range of experiences
- Strengthen classroom libraries and reading programs
- Fulfill teacher requests for instructional and independent reading materials
- Increase student access to high-interest books that encourage reading engagement
For schools focused on fostering a culture of reading and supporting long-term literacy growth, book profit often delivers educational value that extends well beyond the fundraising event itself.
Some schools prefer the flexibility of cash rewards. Literati allows schools to convert part or all of their earnings into cash, providing funding that can be used wherever it is needed most.
These funds may support:
- Library additions and improvements
- Makerspaces and STEM Labs
- Technology purchases
- Student programs
- Library programming, including author visits and school events
- Special projects and campus initiatives
This option gives school leaders the freedom to address their most pressing needs while still benefiting from a literacy-centered fundraiser.
One feature I especially appreciate is the ability to collect rewards as Literati Credits and redeem them for a Visa eGift Card when cash is needed. This approach offers both flexibility and convenience, allowing schools to maximize the value of their rewards while choosing the option that best fits their goals.
Read more about the Visa eGift Card option here.
A new standout feature of the Literati rewards program is the availability of Literati Partner Credits. As Literati’s most flexible reward option, Partner Credits can be redeemed through Literati or a growing network of educational and enrichment partners, allowing schools to extend the value of their rewards far beyond books alone.
Schools can use Partner Credits for:
- Future Literati Book Fair purchases
- Educational resources and classroom materials
- Learning tools and supplies
- STEM and Makerspace products and activities
- Games and puzzles
- Additional literacy resources
This flexibility creates opportunities for schools to support multiple areas of learning while maintaining a strong focus on educational enrichment.
Another significant advantage is that Literati Partner Credits never expire, giving schools the freedom to redeem them whenever the timing is right. Schools earn Partner Credits through their book fair rewards and can continue accumulating credits through the year-round Literati Store.
To make Partner Credits even more valuable, Literati has developed partnerships with a variety of educational companies and organizations. As the partner network continues to grow, schools gain access to an expanding range of products, services, and learning opportunities.
Let's take a closer look at the Literati Partners!
I was especially excited to see that Capstone is one of Literati’s Partners. Capstone has long been one of my favorite educational publishers, offering high-quality books, literacy programs, and digital learning resources that are widely used in elementary schools and libraries across the country.
By redeeming Partner Credits with Capstone, schools can invest in educational content designed to inspire curiosity, strengthen reading skills, and support classroom instruction. It's a great way to turn book fair rewards into resources that benefit students and teachers long after the fair has ended.
Ozobot is another exciting Literati Partner. Designed for students in PreK–12, Ozobot combines coding and robotics with both screen-free and app-based learning experiences that help build creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and STEM skills.
Schools can redeem their Partner Credits for Ozobot gift card codes, which are typically delivered by email within 48 hours. These codes can be used to purchase robotics kits, coding tools, and other hands-on learning resources that support STEM and computer science education.
We are huge fans of Novel Effect at my school, so I was thrilled when it became a Literati Profit Rewards partner. Having seen firsthand how much students and teachers enjoy it, I’m excited that more schools and libraries can bring this engaging reading experience into their communities.
Novel Effect transforms read-alouds into interactive experiences with music and sound effects that respond to the reader’s voice. It fits seamlessly into existing classroom and library routines while making storytime more engaging and memorable. For schools looking for a simple way to spark excitement around reading, Novel Effect is a fantastic option.
Melon Rind specializes in interactive math games for elementary-aged students. Their products combine learning and play, helping students develop mathematical thinking while engaging in collaborative activities.
For schools looking to strengthen STEM learning, Melon Rind offers a creative use of fundraising rewards.
Mrs. Nelson's Book Company provides access to a vast catalog of books, including new releases, classics, textbooks, and library editions. Their durable Readerbound editions are especially popular with schools seeking long-lasting library materials.
This partnership gives schools another avenue for expanding book collections using earned rewards.
As you can see, Literati Rewards Partners offer something for every library and school.
For details about earning and redeeming Partner Credits including current redemption options and conversion rates, be sure to review Literati’s Partner Credit resources here.
Please note that Partner Credits are issued after your book fair invoice has been paid.
Every school has different priorities. Some need books. Others need cash for projects. Still others want access to educational resources that extend beyond traditional reading materials.
The flexibility of Literati’s reward system allows schools to align fundraising outcomes with their specific goals.
Benefits include:
- Multiple reward options
- Educationally focused partnerships
- Support for literacy initiatives
- Flexibility for school budgets
- Opportunities to enhance STEM, Makerspaces, and classroom learning
Rather than limiting schools to a single catalog or reward structure, Literati Book Fairs offers multiple pathways for reinvesting fundraising success directly into student learning.
At its best, a school book fair does more than raise funds. It creates opportunities. Literati’s flexible rewards program gives schools the freedom to turn book fair success into the resources they need most, whether that’s growing the school library and classroom libraries, supporting school-wide initiatives, or investing in tools that help students learn and thrive.
With options including book profits, cash rewards, Partner Credits, or a combination of all three, schools can choose the path that delivers the greatest impact for their community. As Literati continues to expand its network of partners, those opportunities will only continue to grow.
Because when every book fair is designed to support literacy and learning, the benefits extend far beyond the event itself, helping students, educators, and schools succeed throughout the year.
And at the heart of it all, there’s nothing better than seeing a student light up over a book they can’t wait to take home.
You can learn even more about Literati Book Fairs and book fair rewards here.
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