As book lovers, it’s important that we occasionally pause to think about how we can not only support the reading world we live in, but bring more to the table. From helping children to fall in love with books to getting resources into the hands of those who need it most, there are a lot of ways to extend your love of reading beyond your own shelves. If you’re interested in supporting others on their bookish journey, we have a few ways to help get you started.

Work with literacy foundations

Literacy foundations are a great way to support initiatives that are already in motion. Whether they are local to you or global, you can start helping right away by donating, volunteering or participating in ongoing campaigns that help drive the reading world forward.

The Rise Up Foundation is dedicated to improving literacy among children living in underserved communities. Alane Adams works particularly close with educators to help get them the resources they need to succeed in the classroom building a love of reading.

The World Literacy Foundation is a global non-profit whose mission is that every child in the world, no matter their location, can reach their full potential with access to literacy skills and books. It starts with children, the earlier we can make sure they don’t fall behind on literacy, the better.

ProLiteracy is focused on adult literacy. Adults with low literacy spend over three times in prescriptions and healthcare than those with above basic health literacy skills. They are also four times more likely to live in poverty. They have courses targeted for basic literacy, GED testing, media literacy, and so many more.

Create analog reading experiences

In a world where so many interactions are digital, the value of in-person interactions becomes exponentially more impactful. Reading is a tactile, immersive experience, so find ways to show up in the world as a reader.

• Volunteer in classrooms: Support your child’s education and their classmates by lending a hand to teachers and students
• Start a book club: Whether at school, at work, in your family or amongst your friends, some people don’t even know where to start when it comes to reading. Be the advocate for your immediate community by creating space that brings people together over the love of reading. You could be the reason someone picks up a book for the first time in years.
• Become a tutor: A lot of literacy programs need volunteers as well. Many offering programs to train you so you can be a helpful contributor to their program.
• Lead a book drive: There are so many different ways to give, put reading at the forefront by creating a book drive much like canned food drives many are familiar with. Sometimes, all people need is a little direction and you could generate hundreds of donations.
• Support programs for incarcerated people: There are a number of organizations that direct their advocacy efforts towards the prison system. This can often be a largely overlooked population who can benefit the most from this sort of support.
• Look into hospitals, shelters and foster care programs: Again, the organization you collaborate with or your own individual endeavors don’t necessarily have to be bookish at their origins. Instead, consider the marginalized populations who often only looked upon as having their basic needs met, but are under served in areas like education.

Find more volunteer opportunities here!

Put up a Little Free Library

Little Free Libraries give people free access to books, especially in areas that might not have public libraries. There are now more than 200,000 registered Little Free Libraries worldwide, in 128 countries, and across all seven continents. More than 400 million books have reached new readers through LFL. Their Read in Color initiative also ensures that people get to find and read books about people like them. Their goal is to put diverse stories in all LFLs across the country. It starts with installing a library in your community then filling it with books about all kinds of people. Reading diversely increases empathy and inclusion.

To start a Little Free Library, they recommend finding a LFL near you and chatting with the steward of that library to ask for advice. Check out this map to find a LFL near you. Then you can either build your own library, find someone locally to build it for you, or purchase one through LFL’s online store. If you purchase one through the store, it will automatically be registered. If you build your own, you can register it by purchasing a charter sign. Once you’re registered, you can set up your steward account, adding your LFL to the map for others to find your library! Now you’re ready to build community support and get your neighborhood reading.

If you don’t have the means to start a Little Free Library of your own, consider making a donation so they can work on putting up more libraries in high-need communities. You can even volunteer! And donating your books to a LFL near you is always welcome!

Gifting books

Sharing your love of books with the little ones (and the not so little ones!) in your life can be the spark that ignites a passion for reading. Going on a hunt through the bookstore to find a book you think they might enjoy is a great way to show you know someone. Instead of toys, considering gifting books!

• Holiday Traditions: There is a famous Icelandic tradition called Jólabókaflóð (pronounced yo-la-boke-a-flowth). It roughly translates to the Christmas Book Flood. Essentially, on Christmas Eve, everyone exchanges books and then the family spends the night reading. This is the perfect way to make reading fun for the whole family. Plus the kids will be excited about getting to open a gift early. You can do this with friends or family, but consider making gifting books a new tradition for the holidays.
• Birthday Book: Gifting a book for the kid’s in your life’s birthday might not sound all that exciting, but finding a book that might encourage them for whatever stage of life they’re in and a heartfelt handwritten note about where they are and what they mean to you is such a special gift. One they can look back on for years to come.
• Book Exchanges: An office book exchange is a great way to connect with coworkers and get everyone excited about reading. Either host a live trading event where everyone brings in a book or two and then swap. You could have everyone wrap them and make it a “blind date” with a book exchange. Or set up a small shelf for people to take and leave books in the break room. You can do this with friends too! Make it a book swap party or just have an informal swap at dinner, everyone brings a book they think someone else might like.

Support your local library

Just having a library card helps maintain establishments that are there to serve. In addition to the nostalgic opportunity to check out books, you can also download the Libby app to check out eBooks and audiobooks from your local library as well! Make sure your library card is current, or if you’ve moved recently that you have one for your library. Sign up for their newsletter to find out about workshops, author talks, and book clubs you can join. The more events you show up to, the more proof they have for how vital the library is. This can help get more access to funding.

The library is always looking for volunteers. You can volunteer to read during story time or just assist the librarians who work so hard. Friends of the Library is a great way to help, just search ‘Friends of the Library near me’ and it should populate your local Friends of the Library organization.

You can become an ALA member. The American Library Association is a community of people advocating and ensuring libraries continue to be centers of literacy, access, and opportunity. It’s not just for librarians, you can become a member as well as a supporter or a student! For those committed to supporting libraries and librarians, this could be a great fit.

Every year, congress decides how much money to fund for museums and libraries. And almost every year, the funding for libraries gets reduced. Even if you only have 5 minutes, telling the senate to fund libraries is simple. Fill out this form to remind your senators why libraries are important to you and they need to be funded.

Libraries are one of the last completely free spaces to spend your time and be a part of your community. As a book lover, you know how great the library is, find ways to help keep them as the bedrock of our communities.

Read with kids

Reading aloud to children is one of the most under considered, but most important, ways to make sure that the joy of reading is passed onto the next generation. Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, an aunt or uncle, older sibling or have friends with kids whom you adore, reading aloud leaves a lasting impression.

Get a little help with creative initiatives like Alane Adam’s readalong of her book The Blue Witch. This innovative approach to reaching kids on a medium they likely already engage with, allows for adults to participate in an experience that meets kids where they’re at and inspires next steps in reading and comprehension.

The Blue Witch has a fully animated readalong on YouTube now!

Buy now: Bookshop.org | Amazon

Donate books wherever and whenever you can

Let’s face it, we all have a plethora of books lying around. Maybe you have some children’s books your kids have grown out of that can find a new home. And remember, adults need literacy support too! So you can truly donate any of your previously loved books to places like shelters, nonprofits, schools and libraries.

Every time we give anyone more access to books and resources, we’re helping improve the world around us.

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