AIDA Books&More

When you think about your business, what are you most proud of?

From our volunteer team. AIDA Books&More is a network of solidarity bookshops run by volunteers who dedicate a few hours a week to the project. More than 500 people collaborate in this network by contributing their time, enthusiasm and knowledge.

What is the history of your commerce?

The first solidarity bookshop AIDA Books&More was opened in Segovia. It seemed to us to be a way of raising funds for our cooperation projects that fitted in very well with our way of doing things. Little by little we became aware of all the possibilities that arose around books and we opened new shops, always led by volunteers who want to see an AIDA Books&More in their city.

What is your professional experience?

AIDA is a development cooperation NGO that was founded in 1999 and since 2004 has been recognised as a Public Utility by the Ministry of the Interior. We are currently present in Guinea Bissau, Senegal, Lebanon, Bangladesh and Morocco, where we work to make human rights a reality in the world.

How has covid 19 affected your business?

Todas nuestras tiendas tuvieron que cerrar unos días antes del estado de emergencia. Durante este tiempo no sólo no hemos podido obtener fondos para los proyectos de cooperación, sino tampoco para cubrir los gastos de las librerías.
Hemos lanzado la campaña "Por los libros que leeremos", para dar a nuestros amigos y clientes la posibilidad de comprar vales de libros durante esos meses, que podrán canjear una vez que las tiendas estén abiertas. Estamos muy contentos con la acogida.

What services and products does your business provide?

We offer for sale second-hand donated books to finance, with the profits, the cooperation projects of the association AIDA, Ayuda, Intercambio y Desarrollo (Help, Exchange and Development). We have copies of all kinds (narrative, essays, childrens books...) as well as CDs, DCDs and vinyls. All of this at very low prices, starting at 0.5€.