Independent Music United is a Cleveland-based nonprofit that focuses on creating a more sustainable independent music community by providing free seminars, workshops, and other resources to musicians, while aiding the redevelopment of Greater Cleveland as a whole. Our unique platform provides these sought after resources in exchange for community service hours that are both manageable and impactful. Our impact includes building a more educated musician base in Cleveland thus making our city more appealing to outside musicians; very directly enhancing downtown vibrancy by consistently performing needed community service tasks; and creating a more business-savvy music community. By the end of 2011, we plan to aid at least 25 bands through our innovative programs, as well as performing over 200 hours of community service.

One of the comforts that I found most helpful while living in a van with four other guys for weeks and months at a time, was reading. Nothing could kill time, ease stress, or help me escape quite like a good book. It is with that in mind that we here at IMU have decided to collect any and all fiction and nonfiction books that are in passable condition so that we can donate them to bands on tour who pass through the Cleveland, Ohio area (or are leaving from the Cleveland area to embark on a tour).

More information will be coming in the next few weeks, but we’ve already managed to collect over 100 books just between our staff, volunteers, friends, and family! We are aiming to collect at least 500 books during our first drive, and we hope that you’ll go through your old collection and donate one or two to help independent musicians keep their sanity while on the road.

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What books changed your life?