Purdue-affiliated startup delivers contemporary black literature to your door through book subscription service

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A Purdue-affiliated startup has joined the subscription box market to promote diverse books and ethnic literature. The startup is developing accessible, quality and affordable library-inspired book subscription boxes celebrating contemporary black literature and authors.

Jamillah R. Gabriel, librarian at Purdue's Black Cultural Center, founded Call Number to share her love of books and literature. Each month, Call Number subscribers are sent a newly released book by black authors from America, the Caribbean islands and Africa, along with four to five book-themed and library-related items.

Gabriel was inspired to create Call Number after realizing the need for access to more diverse books.

"These days there is a subscription box service for just about anything: fitness products, beauty products, even razors. However, after reviewing many literary subscription box sites I realized there were no book subscription boxes that highlighted black literature," said Gabriel who holds a Bachelor of Arts in black studies and journalism from California State University and a Masters of Library and Information Science from San Jose State University. "The lack of diversity in the publishing industry also spurred my decision to test the waters of entrepreneurship in an endeavor that would promote diverse literature in an easily accessible way."

Gabriel said Call Number shows an appreciation for libraries and helps subscribers build and organize their personal libraries with distinctive touches.

"Being a professional librarian gave me a breadth of experience in selecting books for libraries and a deep knowledge of black literature and authors. This has given me a unique ability to personally select each book from a myriad of contemporary black authors," she said. "Not only do the boxes include a current book, it will also include four to five curated items that mirror prominent themes in the featured book as well as catalog cards and spine labels that come with each book to help users build their own collection of black literature."

Gabriel is raising funds for Call Number via an Indiegogo campaign at igg.me/at/callnumberbox, which will help officially launch the subscription box in October. One of the perks offered is a Founder's Limited Edition Box, which is now available only to backers.

"My goal is to raise $1,750, which will help me cover the costs of a website and platform to manage the service, print boxes and materials and purchase books and curated items. I think backers and early subscribers will love the curated bookish items that are in the exclusive limited edition box," Gabriel said. "I'm excited to launch the company and bring the latest black literature to subscribers' doors so that they won't have to go searching for great reads."

To help expand the business, Gabriel is receiving assistance from Purdue Foundry, a startup accelerator in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship and will be participating in their LaunchBox program.

For more information, and to sign up for the email list, visit callnumberbox.com.

About Call Number Box  

Call Number is a library-inspired book subscription box celebrating contemporary black literature and authors. Receive a newly-released book and 4-5 themed items every month.

About Purdue Foundry

The Purdue Foundry is an entrepreneurship and commercialization accelerator in Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship whose professionals help Purdue innovators create startups. Managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, the Purdue Foundry received the 2014 Incubator Network of the Year by the National Business Incubation Association for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org.

About Purdue Research Foundation

The Purdue Research Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation created to advance the mission of Purdue University. Established in 1930, the foundation accepts gifts; administers trusts; funds scholarships and grants; acquires property; protects Purdue's intellectual property; and promotes entrepreneurial activities on behalf of Purdue. The foundation manages the Purdue Foundry, Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, Purdue Research Park and Purdue Technology Centers. The foundation received the 2014 Incubator Network of the Year by the National Business Incubation Association for its work in entrepreneurship. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. 

Purdue Research Foundation contact: Hillary Henry, 765-588-3586, hkhenry@prf.org

Source: Jamillah R. Gabriel, 765-494-3093, jgabrie@purdue.edu