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Our Mission
The Building a Bookshelf organization is dedicated to finding and supporting programs that can provide public access to books for children that otherwise would never know the joy of owning a book.
Our Programs
Getting books into children's hands is the key to what we do. We are always looking for creative ways to inspire kids to read. In a nutshell:
1. We provide children with books they can take home and own. Studies show that having books in the home increase a child's probability of succeeding in school. We distribute the books through partnerships with organizations who serve children as well as community outreach opportunities.2. We create libraries in places where kids spend time. After-school programs, shelters, daycares, and medical facilities are examples. A library can be a single bookshelf or hundreds of books - but the key is that the children have access to books while they are at the facility. We also support teachers by providing them with books for their classrooms.
3. We become a Page Pal© to a child – like a pen pal, but with books. We send books directly to children four times a year, helping them build up an at-home library. This helps ensure that they have age-appropriate books in a variety of titles. Just when they are getting tired of a book, they will get another one in the mail to take its place.
Since our very first book was given out in August 2010, we've given out over 9,000 books! Want to know how you can help?
Why We Do This
- A recent study shows that while in middle income neighborhoods the ratio of books per child is 13 to 1, in low-income neighborhoods, the ratio is 1 age-appropriate book for every 300 children.
- 80% of preschool and after-school programs serving low-income populations have no age-appropriate books for their children.
- Communities ranking high in achievement tests have several factors in common: an abundance of books in public libraries, easy access to books in the community at large and a large number of textbooks per student.
- Among adults at the lowest level of literacy proficiency, 43% live in poverty. Among adults with strong literacy skills, only 4% live in poverty.
- Across the nation just under half of children between birth and five years (47.8%) are read to every day by their parents or other family members.
Your $10 donation buys 22 brand new books!
Wondering if you can make a difference? Check out this post about what a difference each of us can make.
Wondering if you can make a difference? Check out this post about what a difference each of us can make.
