The Library Project is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Phoenix, Arizona. All donations made in the United States are tax-deductible. Our programs across the country focus on increasing access to books, supporting teachers, and engaging parents to create a culture of reading both at school and at home.

We partner with local literacy-focused nonprofit organizations to identify communities and schools most in need of resources. Whether in an urban or rural school, our goal is the same — to help children discover the joy of reading and develop the literacy skills they need to succeed.

Book Donations

We provide new, high-quality books to schools that are in need of additional reading materials. These donations refresh collections, expand access to diverse stories, and help teachers connect students with books that inspire learning and imagination.

Teacher Training

We equip educators with the tools and confidence to integrate literacy into daily lessons and inspire a love of reading in every student. Training focuses on practical strategies that can be adapted for classrooms of all sizes and levels.

Parent Support

Reading at home reinforces reading at school. Our family literacy initiatives offer parents and caregivers simple ways to create supportive reading environments, even in homes with limited resources.

Where We Work

The Library Project supports both rural and urban schools throughout the United States, with a focus on communities where access to quality reading materials remains limited. From small towns to large cities, our programs are designed to meet local needs and build lasting partnerships that strengthen literacy nationwide.

What the data shows (K–12)

• Reading achievement has fallen nationwide. In 2022, average NAEP reading scores declined at both 4th and 8th grade, with Grade 4 reaching its lowest level since 2005; 2024 results show additional state and district declines from 2022. 
• Two-thirds of U.S. fourth-graders (68%) were not proficient readers in 2022, up from 66% in 2019. 
• Early proficiency matters: children not reading on grade level by the end of Grade 3 are four times more likely not to graduate on time.

Challenges by grade band

• Kindergarten & Early Grades (K–3): Limited print in homes/classrooms and fewer read-alouds constrain vocabulary and decoding practice during the critical “learning to read” window.
• Upper Elementary (4–5): Students shift to “reading to learn” as texts get denser; gaps widen without abundant, level-appropriate nonfiction and fiction. Overall proficiency remains low.
• Middle School (6–8): Content growth outpaces text access; schedule constraints and staffing shortages reduce sustained reading time and support.
• High School (9–12): Persistent reading gaps correlate with lower graduation odds; cuts to certified librarians weaken research, media-literacy, and independent-reading supports. 

How The Library Project’s Book Donations Help

We expand access where students already are. Book donations refresh school libraries with high-interest, diverse, age-appropriate titles, strengthening daily reading in urban and rural schools alike (especially where collections are thin or outdated). This directly counters book-desert dynamics and supports the K–8 shift from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.”

We complement teachers and families. New print choices enhance independent reading and read-alouds; paired guidance helps teachers integrate books into lessons, and take-home sets encourage family reading—mitigating digital access barriers at home.