“The America I loved still exists, if not in the White House or the Supreme Court or the Senate or the House of Representatives or the media. The America I love still exists at the front desks of our public libraries.”
― Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without a Country
We are living in uncertain times with many unknowns. Across the country, access to books, libraries, and trustworthy information are under threat. In our small slice of the world, Access Books strives to create welcoming spaces with an abundance of interesting books. We want to give students whatever it is they are seeking: adventure, fantasy, intellectual stimulation, or, simply, calm. To this end, we filled the shelves of elementary and middle school libraries throughout the fall. We also connected students with their favorite authors and distributed books for home libraries.
This semester, nearly 1,000 volunteers distributed approximately 77,000 books for school, classroom, and home libraries.
Among our other activities:
8 school libraries were refurbished. Books published in the 1950s were weeded and replaced with current, interesting titles.
7,700 students received bundles of 6-8 books to add to their growing home library for winter break. Nearly 40,000 books are now in home libraries.
6,000 books were provided for a new middle school library in Compton.
2,400 students met an author and received a book.
500 books were distributed to book clubs.
Dozens of parents participated in literacy workshops and received take-home libraries.
4 podcasts were produced through our partnership with Kitty Felde.
2,300 books were distributed internationally to orphans in Mexico and girls in Afghanistan
And our work is never done! Access Books currently has 19 volunteer opportunities on our calendar for winter and spring 2025. Sign up for one (or two or three) today!
We are also looking for board members. If you place a high value on children’s literacy and libraries, considering helping Access Books realize its mission by joining our Board. Email rebecca@accessbooks.net if interested.
Access Books is committed, more than ever, to providing children a refuge filled with books and acceptance. We want to thank our many volunteers, great staff, and dedicated donors. During these challenging times, books, reading, and libraries are more important and vital than ever. We believe that all children ― regardless of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status ― have the right to an educational environment that fosters a love of reading. Study after study has shown that students who read more do better, not just academically, but in life. Every child deserves to discover the joy and benefits of reading for pleasure.
