A Community Coming Together
In partnership with longtime partner The Knowledge Exchange, Bernie’s Book Bank hosted a used book sale on April 11–12, bringing the community together around a shared love of reading and access to books. The event featured a wide selection of titles, including nonfiction, fiction, graphic novels, and more, offering something for readers of all ages.
The Knowledge Exchange, founded by Northbrook native Spencer Testa, is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: give books a second life. By redistributing books from libraries and local organizations that might otherwise end up in landfills, the organization is helping reduce waste while expanding access to reading materials. Since 2024, The Knowledge Exchange has donated more than 40,000 books to Bernie’s Book Bank, directly supporting efforts to get books into the hands of children who need them most.
For Testa, the partnership is deeply personal.
“Growing up in Northbrook, Bernie’s Book Bank has always been part of my local landscape,” he shared.
“From book drives through school and sports programs to fundraisers organized through community groups, the mission of getting books into the hands of children has always felt close to home. Years later, while researching book insecurity in college, I began to understand just how many children and families lack access to books. That realization helped inspire the creation of The Knowledge Exchange. From the start, we believed that every book we collect carries a responsibility. By partnering with Bernie’s, the communities and individuals we work with know that the children’s books we collect support local literacy initiatives and help spark a lifelong love of reading for generations to come.”
Events like this used book sale highlight the impact that strong community partnerships can have. Together, Bernie’s Book Bank and The Knowledge Exchange are not only keeping books out of landfills—they are putting stories, knowledge, and opportunity directly into the hands of children across the community.
About The Knowledge Exchange:
Knowledge Exchange is a book redistribution company dedicated to giving books a second life. We work with libraries, organizations, and individuals to collect books across the Chicagoland area and carefully route them to their next destination instead of a landfill. Whether they go to readers, classrooms, or community partners, we work to extend the life of every book we receive.
Knowledge Exchange believes that every book saved represents an opportunity to succeed through literacy. Through partnerships with organizations like Bernie’s Book Bank, Knowledge Exchange helps ensure that books continue their stories, connecting children with new reads and even more opportunities to learn.
