Over the past 17 years, the Parole Rotary Club of Annapolis has processed more than 5 million books as part of its Books for International Goodwill (BIG) book sale.

According to a release, the local effort is the largest all-volunteer book distribution project in the world.

In announcing the milestone, rotary officials said that many books, laid down end-to-end, would reach from Annapolis to Minneapolis or cover a football field eight feet deep.

The project delivers books to schools, libraries, Indian reservations, prisons, hospitals and U.S. troops. They receive more than 30,000 books per month from schools, libraries, publishers and individuals, according to a release.

The effort is funded by the Rotary Club, regular book sales, donations and partial reimbursement by some of the recipients.

The BIG project provides a “library in a box” of more than 20,000 books to each institutional recipient. Other recipients receive three or four boxes targeted to their specific needs.

“It is a win-win operation," BIG President Steve Frantzich said in a release. "Book contributors get the satisfaction of keeping their books alive. Volunteers develop a sense of helping others, and recipients are empowered through learning and literacy.”

The environmental impact of the project has been significant, saving over 50,000 cubic feet of landfill space that would have been taken up by donated school texts.

The club will celebrate the 5 million mark with a reception from 6-9 p.m. March 23 at its warehouse at 2000-B Capital Dr., Annapolis.

For $15 you can have access to more than 70,000 books for sale, a silent auction, food and a mini Antiques Road show where you can have one book or other item appraised.

Reservations will be taken until March 22 by calling 410-672-6469 or emailing lcotegil@yahoo.com.

For more information, visit www.big-books.org.