Welcome to Project Cicero! We are an annual non-profit book drive designed to create - or supplement - school and classroom libraries for children in under-resourced New York City public schools. Since its inception in 2001, Project Cicero has distributed 1.3 million new and gently used books to 7,500 New York City classrooms and libraries, reaching 300,000 students. We receive donations from individuals and families from over 100 independent, public, and parochial schools each year, and have received generous contributions from many book publishers.
Over 1,000 teachers from all over New York City are invited to make their selections at our event in early March each year. Hundreds of student, parent and teacher volunteers assist in all aspects of collecting and distributing the books.
Project Cicero is a partnership of New York City parent and student volunteers, The New York Society Library, Children for Children Foundation, Vornado Realty Trust, and The New York Post, in association with the New York City Teaching Fellows and Teach for America New York.
On-line donations of new books may be made through this website by clicking on the "Wish List." Books on the list are in great demand by participating teachers. Monetary donations are also welcome and may be made through this website by clicking "Contact Us."
Project Cicero is named in honor of the Roman writer, statesman, orator and philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero, who created extensive libraries in the first century, B.C. He shared his love of literature and learning, just as Project Cicero seeks to do.
