Introduction
A library filled with books is powerful, but it needs champions. Teachers and parents are the bridge between access and lifelong literacy. When educators are equipped and caregivers are supported, children flourish in reading, learning, and growth. On this page, we explore the challenges teachers and parents face, show how The Library Project works with them, and invite you to partner in their journey.
Teacher Training & Support
Teachers are the gatekeepers of literacy; the ones who bring books to life and help students become confident readers. In rural contexts, many teachers face large class sizes, limited materials, weak access to ongoing professional development, and isolation from peer networks.
At The Library Project, our Teacher Training program provides workshops, classroom coaching, and mentoring to build teacher capacity in guided reading, book handling, and creating a print-rich environment. We focus on practical methods: read-aloud strategies, small-group reading, book selection, and literacy integration across subjects. Our trainings are contextualized to rural realities so teachers can apply them immediately in their classrooms.
Because we know that learning is continuous, we also offer refresher sessions, peer learning circles, and monitoring visits to ensure quality and sustainability. By investing in teachers, we increase the likelihood that libraries become vibrant places of reading, not unused book repositories.
Parent & Family Support
Many rural families face serious barriers when it comes to supporting their children’s literacy journey. Parents often contend with low literacy themselves, limited time (due to agricultural or labor burdens), scarce reading materials at home, poor infrastructure (electricity, lighting), and digital divides that make accessing resources difficult. In rural areas, lack of access to education and transport further compounds this, keeping families isolated from support systems. 
A study on rural literacy programs notes that while reading programs in schools can raise performance, lasting gains depend heavily on community and parental engagement, for instance, through reading dialogues at home or simple print materials shared with caregivers. 
As UNESCO puts it: “Disparities based on location and household wealth are more pronounced … rural and poorer families experience greater disadvantages.” 
To address these challenges, The Library Project supports parents through family reading workshops, simple reading guides, take-home materials (to accompany our Literacy Bags), and community events. These efforts help caregivers grow confidence in reading with children, even when their own education was limited. Over time, we aim to transform homes into literate environments that reinforce what children learn at school.
Partnership & Synergy
Teachers + Parents + Libraries
Teachers and parents working in tandem is where real, sustainable literacy takes root. Libraries provide the resources and space, teachers bring those books to life, and parents reinforce the habit of reading at home. When these components align, children benefit most.
Our model includes built-in collaboration: teacher trainings help educators communicate effectively with parents; parent engagement programs share simple reading strategies that complement classroom instruction.
By strengthening both sides of the literacy ecosystem, we create momentum. A child who reads at school, receives encouragement at home, and sees books at hand is more likely to grow into a lifelong reader, making the library’s investment pay off across generations.
Global Literacy Partnerships
We also work beyond our core program countries through Global Literacy Partnerships. By partnering with NGOs, schools, and governments worldwide, we adapt teacher training and parent support models to local languages, curricula, and contexts. Each country’s literacy challenges differ, from multilingual settings to policy constraints, and we collaborate with local experts to ensure relevance and lasting impact.