Teachers & Parents
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.
Literacy
Opening the Door to Opportunity
Literacy changes everything. It helps children learn, connect, and dream beyond the classroom. Yet for millions of children around the world, learning to read remains out of reach. At The Library Project, we believe that literacy is more than a skill; it’s a human right and the foundation for a brighter future.
The Challenge
In many rural communities, children attend schools with few or no books. According to the World Bank, seven in ten children in low- and middle-income countries cannot read and understand a simple text by age ten. Without early access to reading materials or guided instruction, many students fall behind, limiting their ability to learn across all subjects.
The challenge goes beyond access. Teachers often lack training and resources to teach reading effectively, and many parents don’t have the tools to support learning at home. This creates a cycle where children struggle to build literacy skills, even when they are eager to learn.
Our Approach
The libraries we build solve the challenge of access, giving children a place to explore books and discover the joy of reading. But our commitment goes further. We strengthen literacy through children’s reading programs, teacher training, and parent engagement.
By training teachers, we ensure libraries are not just rooms filled with books but dynamic learning spaces led by skilled educators. Teachers are the gatekeepers of every library; their ability to inspire students turns access into achievement. Meanwhile, by supporting parents, we help create literate homes, environments where children see reading as part of daily life.
Our approach connects classrooms, libraries, and families to ensure that literacy becomes a community value, not just a school goal.
Building a Culture of Reading
When children have access to books, teachers have the tools to teach, and parents have the confidence to support them, literacy flourishes. Through our ongoing programs, we cultivate reading habits that last a lifetime. Each book, activity, and training session builds toward a shared goal: helping children not only learn to read, but love to read.
You can learn more about how we measure and sustain these outcomes in our Our Impact and Measuring Our Impact pages.
Global Literacy Partnerships
Our commitment to literacy extends beyond our program countries. Through Global Literacy Partnerships, we collaborate with organizations around the world to build libraries, share resources, and adapt programs to local contexts. Each country faces unique challenges, from language diversity to curriculum differences, and we work alongside partners to ensure our shared goal of children’s literacy fits each community’s needs.
Libraries
Building Spaces for Learning
Libraries open doors to possibility. For many children in rural communities, a library is the first place they’ve ever had access to books. It’s more than shelves and stories; it’s a space where curiosity grows, creativity is encouraged, and a love of learning begins.
At The Library Project, we build libraries that meet children and communities where they are. Each library we create is designed to inspire reading, strengthen education, and support teachers and parents in nurturing lifelong learners.
Why Libraries Matter
Around the world, millions of children attend schools with no access to books or safe, dedicated spaces to read. According to UNESCO, literacy is “the foundation for lifelong learning,” yet in many low- and middle-income countries, seven in ten children cannot read and understand a simple story by age ten (World Bank, 2022).
Libraries make learning possible. They provide essential reading materials, encourage exploration, and empower teachers to make reading part of everyday classroom life. By investing in libraries, we’re investing in stronger schools, confident readers, and thriving communities.
Our Library Types
Every community is different, and so is every library we build. From full Reading Rooms to compact Reading Corners and take-home Literacy Bags, each library is designed to meet children and teachers where they are, creating spaces that make reading accessible, joyful, and sustainable.
Reading Rooms
Reading Rooms transform existing school spaces into bright, inviting libraries filled with books, tables, chairs, and shelving designed for children. Working with local education departments, we repurpose unused classrooms into inspiring learning spaces that serve the entire school.
Reading Corners
Reading Corners bring books directly into classrooms and community centers, giving children and teachers access to diverse, high-quality titles. Each Reading Corner creates a welcoming place where children can explore, learn, and grow every day.
Book Donations
Book Donations strengthen existing school libraries by providing new, high-quality books that keep collections fresh and engaging. Each donation helps students discover new stories, explore new ideas, and continue their journey as lifelong readers.
Literacy Bags
Literacy Bags give children their very own collection of books to take home; their first personal library. Distributed through schools and local partners, these bags help families build a reading culture that continues beyond the classroom.
Our Book Content Core Values
Our book content core values guide everything we do at The Library Project. They shape the libraries we build, the literacy programs we deliver, and the training we provide to teachers and parents. Each book we select reflects these values, helping children explore diverse ideas, think critically, and discover the joy of reading.
Our Core Values
- STEAM Education – Encouraging curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving through science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.
- Inclusion & Diversity – Promoting empathy and understanding by celebrating different cultures, abilities, and perspectives.
- Protecting the Environment – Inspiring children to value and care for the natural world around them.
- Girls’ Education – Supporting gender equality and empowering girls through access to education and knowledge.
- Promoting World Peace – Encouraging kindness, cooperation, and global awareness through the stories children read.
- Nurturing the Heart & Mind – Building emotional intelligence and compassion alongside intellectual growth.
Partner With Us
Corporate Partnerships
Corporate partners play a vital role in advancing The Library Project’s mission to improve children’s literacy. Through strategic partnerships, companies help us bring books, libraries, teacher training, and family literacy programs to communities where children need them most.
We work closely with corporate teams to design meaningful employee engagement opportunities and impactful CSR initiatives that align with their values and sustainability goals. Every partnership is built around transparency, measurable impact, and shared purpose — ensuring your company’s contribution changes lives and strengthens communities.
Fund a Library Project
Support a library donation through our Reading Rooms, Reading Corners, Book Donations, or Literacy Bags programs. Each library provides students and teachers with high-quality books, educational resources, and a vibrant learning environment.
Engage Employees in Volunteerism
Employees can join on-site or virtual volunteer activities that support library donations, assemble reading kits, or share professional skills. These experiences build teamwork and strengthen children’s literacy.
Match Donations and Volunteer Hours
Double your employees’ impact through corporate gift matching or paid volunteer programs. Many companies already match donations to The Library Project. Use our Corporate Matching Tool to see if yours does.
Why Partner with The Library Project
Since 2006, The Library Project has established over 3,000 libraries, donated more than 2 million books, and improved literacy for over 1 million children across Asia and beyond. Our partnerships with global and local corporations have powered this progress — helping children discover the joy of reading and creating opportunities for lifelong learning.
Together, we can create measurable social impact and build stronger, more literate communities.
Foundations
The Library Project partners with philanthropic foundations that share our belief that literacy is the foundation of lifelong learning. Together, we create programs that provide access to books, build libraries, train teachers, and engage parents — giving children the tools they need to read, learn, and thrive.
We collaborate with foundations of all sizes to design partnerships that align with their mission, geographic priorities, and impact goals. Whether funding a single library, supporting nationwide teacher training, or empowering families through literacy programs, every partnership helps us reach more children in underserved communities.
Program Funding
Support the creation of new Reading Rooms, Reading Corners, Book Donations, and Literacy Bags, or fund Teacher Training initiatives that equip educators to inspire young readers. Each program includes full reporting, impact measurement, and transparency.
Capacity and Research Support
Partner with us to strengthen literacy data collection, monitoring, and evaluation. Foundations can help build evidence-based literacy models that inform education policy and improve program design globally.
Global Literacy Partnerships
We welcome foundations that wish to expand literacy support beyond our program countries. Through our Global Partnerships, we collaborate with local organizations worldwide to provide books, libraries, and literacy resources to the children who need them most.
Why Partner with The Library Project
Since 2006, The Library Project has established over 3,000 libraries, donated more than 2 million books, and improved literacy for over 1 million children. Our approach is data-driven, community-based, and focused on sustainable impact.
Partnering with The Library Project ensures your foundation’s funding translates into measurable change — better literacy outcomes, stronger communities, and a brighter future for children.
Working Together for Global Literacy
At The Library Project, we believe that every child deserves access to books, quality education, and the chance to fall in love with reading — no matter where they live. Our Global Partnerships program extends our mission beyond our program countries by working hand-in-hand with nonprofit organizations, schools, and community groups around the world.
Through collaboration, we share our experience building libraries, training teachers, and strengthening literacy programs. Together, we develop sustainable, locally led solutions that ensure more children can read, learn, and thrive.
Let's Talk
News & Stories Archive
Nothing found.
Featured Stories
Nothing found.
Recent Stories
Nothing found.
Archived Stories
Nothing found.
Newsletter
Join Our Newsletter
The Library Project sends pictures and updates via our monthly newsletter. It’s the easiest way to stay up-to-date on our progress in improving education. It might be the best email you receive!
Our Work
Organization Impact
- 2 million children impacted
- 40,000 teachers trained
- 3,000 schools reached
- 100 government partners
- 20 Years Experience
Access to books, skilled teachers, and engaged families remain major barriers in rural communities. Many children attend schools without libraries, where learning resources are limited and reading is often difficult to sustain. At home, limited materials, time, and support can leave learning gaps that persist into adulthood.
The Library Project addresses this at its roots. We build libraries, advance literacy, and support teachers and parents — creating an interconnected ecosystem where children not only learn to read, but grow in curiosity, confidence, and opportunity.
We Build Beautiful Libraries
We transform unused school spaces into vibrant, child-friendly libraries filled with books, tables, chairs, and shelving. From full Reading Rooms to classroom Reading Corners and take-home Literacy Bags, each library brings learning to life and gives every child the chance to explore and dream.
We Promote Children’s Literacy
Access to books is just the beginning. Our literacy programs help children develop the skills and confidence to read and learn for life. Through engaging reading activities, book distribution, and ongoing support, we help students grow into curious, capable readers who see education as an opportunity.
We Support Teachers & Parents
Teachers and parents are at the heart of every library. We train educators to inspire young readers and provide parents with tools to support reading at home. Together, they create the nurturing environments where children’s literacy thrives.
Where We Work
At The Library Project, we’re dedicated to improving children’s literacy in communities where access to books and learning resources is limited. We work with schools, community centers, and local partners to build libraries, provide teacher training, and support family reading at home.
Our goal is simple: to ensure every child, no matter where they live, has the opportunity to read, learn, and grow.
- Where We Work
- 2026-2028 Planned Growth
Measuring Our Impact
This report provides an overview of our post-assessment of 165 rural elementary schools. The Monitoring and Evaluation Team of The Library Project conducted this assessment. Through the analysis of weighted questions, the report demonstrates the overall performance of the 165 libraries. We hope this report will help you gain a better understanding of the daily hard work carried out by the teachers and administration at each of our schools.
Overall Performance
Library Frequency of Usage
Teachers Guide Students with Book Selection
Checkout Records
Number of Books Students Read Annually
Overall Performance
In terms of the daily management of a school’s library, 99% of schools open their libraries daily to weekly, and 78% of schools conduct book classification and registration, which is an area that we would like to see improved.
Regarding creating a reading culture within the school, 95% of teachers provide guidance for students to choose books from their libraries. Furthermore, 93% of students have read more than 11 books from their libraries during the current year, an improvement from 90% in the prior year.
15% of schools conduct weekly reading activities, which is our worst-performing indicator, although this result is not unexpected. Improving literacy and reading awareness is a slow process, and to compound the challenge, teachers rarely have any time left to hold additional class activities.
Answers to Six Weighted Questions
Library Frequency of Usage
Of the six weighted questions, the most important is the frequency of library usage. As shown in the figure, 79% of the schools open their library and let students read books every day, 20% of schools open their library every week, and 1% open their library monthly. These are beautiful results.
Our goal is to have library usage daily and weekly. The results indicate that we have hit this goal. The single location that has a monthly schedule is not a school but a youth service center. For that reason, a monthly opening is more realistic for their situation.
We find that there are three daily opening modes. The first is when a librarian or senior student opens a Reading Room during lunchtime. A small number of schools open their Reading Room the entire day because most schools do not have a full-time librarian. The second mode is when the schools have Reading Corners, and because they are unlocked and located in each classroom, it encourages students to read books at any time. The third mode is when the school has a Reading Room, and teachers bring a selection of books into their classrooms for the students to read.
How often does the library open?
Teachers Guide Students with Book Selection
95% of teachers guide students on book selection. Although there are various ways for teachers to help students select books, the most common way is for the teacher to recommend related works according to the subject they are learning. Students then read the books in their Reading Room or classroom or borrow them to read at home.
Some librarians also set up small blackboards in the school library to recommend good books to all students. For example, Mr. Lou Ying, a librarian in Ruixi Town Central Primary School, Guizhou Province, has three small blackboards in his library, one of which is specifically for book recommendations.
Do teachers guide students with book selection?
Checkout Records
86% of schools have kept checkout records. Large schools do better than small and medium-sized schools because library management rules in large schools have been in place for years. We also found that students in 78% of large schools are active participants in their library management (the ratio of small and medium schools is 55.4% and 70.9%, respectively), which we believe contributes to a higher book checkout rate.
There are many reasons why a school might not keep checkout records, such as being understaffed, the demographic of the students having special needs, or teachers believing the students are too young to take books home safely. In these cases, we overwhelmingly see students being allowed to read books at the schools but not bringing books home for after-school reading activities.
Do schools keep checkout records?
Number of Books Students Read Annually
94% of students read ten or more books annually, on average a little less than one book a month, and 50% read more than twenty books annually.
Students from 6.1% of schools read less than ten books per year. These schools generally have unique circumstances, such as their students have special needs. These schools range from youth service centers to disabled children’s learning centers.
How many books do students read annually?
Corporate Partnerships
Organization Impact
- 2 million children impacted
- 40,000 teachers trained
- 3,000 schools reached
- 100 government partners
- 20 Years Experience
Over the past twenty years, The Library Project has worked with hundreds of corporate partners to improve rural literacy in Asia. Each partnership begins with our organization listening to the corporation’s needs and crafting a CSR program that fits the company’s culture. This is a big reason why 80% of our revenue came from repeat corporate donors.
Our corporate donors range from FedEx (logistics and transportation) to Urban Soup Kitchen (local restaurant chain), showcasing the diversity of our partners. Each of them uniquely approaches CSR. We will assess your company’s size, industry, history, and locations, then work together to create a program that aligns with your budget and expectations.
Strong Programmatic Results
At The Library Project, measuring our impact is incredibly important. It provides data that enables us to improve our programs continually. We also believe it is essential to communicate our successes and challenges to those who support us. To date, we have impacted over a million children by providing access to libraries in their rural primary schools. The beautiful thing about a school library is it lives; it stays just as relevant from day one as it will ten years into the future. Because of this, new children gain access to these spaces annually, and the total impact a library has on a community grows each year.
Training is critical to the long-term success of a library donation. Teachers at rural primary schools and administrators at orphanages all receive training on managing their new library. This training course marks the beginning of a one-year partnership between The Library Project team, ensuring that every library we donate operates at the highest level. Training is a critical part of every library donation.
It is not enough to provide libraries; it is critical to work directly with the children. We take the necessary time to introduce the children to their new library, discuss with them the importance of reading, and explain how each book serves as a window to another world. At the end of each literacy program, the children understand that this new library will be open to them and that they can check books out for overnight reading. Children are always very excited.
Financial Transparency
The Library Project is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization aiming to make every donated dollar count. We take pride in our financial efficiency, donor accountability, and operational transparency. Through our in-depth Annual Reports, the Library Project is an open book. It is essential to us that all donors and volunteers fully understand how The Library Project utilizes their generous financial contributions and how our libraries benefit the children we support. The Library Project consistently strives for 100% transparency.
Our Partners
Our generous corporate partners are important to The Library Project’s success. They allow us to fulfill our mission and expand our organization.
For a full list of our partners, please click here.
Employee Volunteer Involvement
At The Library Project, we are proud of all our corporate volunteers. Simply put, we could not do what we do without their support. Volunteerism at The Library Project is real work. Your team will leave a library donation tired, happy, and feeling as if they positively impacted the lives of children attending a rural primary school.
Strategic Partners
Partners that have supported our programs over the past year.
Adopt a Library
The Library Project donates libraries to improve children’s literacy. Children gain access to a beautiful school library providing fun and interesting children’s books that spark their imaginations and promote a lifelong love of reading. Having fun educational books that are easily available helps to encourage independent learning, intellectual curiosity, and a lifelong passion for reading.
All of our library donations have a teacher training component. This course covers how to properly loan books to students, how to use children’s books in a classroom setting, and how to get the students involved in maintaining their library.
Local language children’s books
We provide a wide range of local language children’s books including history, science, short stories, fairy tales, books for very young readers, children’s dictionaries, children’s reference books, and an assortment of comic books. Each school also receives a full set of children’s encyclopedias for older students. Every book is in full color and of the highest print quality. To acquire our books, we work with various large bookstores’ regional warehouses, online book distributors, and resellers.
Teacher training
The Library Project provides a quality teacher training course. Our teacher training course is created specifically for teachers and administrators to learn how to manage their library. This course covers how to properly care for their library, use the books in a classroom setting, and get the teaching staff involved in maintaining their library.
Why is this important?
Teachers play a vital role. We have discovered that our teacher training course leads to 94% of our libraries being used effectively on a daily to weekly basis after the first year. These results are a source of pride for everyone at The Library Project and motivate us to continue striving toward our goals each day. The Library Project conducts a one-year monitoring and evaluation process, and when schools require additional support, they receive extra training.
Donor volunteer involvement
At The Library Project, we are proud of all our donor volunteers. Simply put, we could not do what we do without their support. Volunteerism at The Library Project is real work. We encourage you to attend your library donation. You will leave a library donation tired, happy, and feeling as if they positively impacted the lives of children attending a rural primary school.
Get your company involved
Over the past twenty years, The Library Project has worked with hundreds of corporate partners to improve rural literacy in Asia. Each partnership begins with our organization listening to the corporation’s needs and crafting a CSR program that fits the company’s culture. This is a big reason why 80% of our revenue came from repeat corporate donors.
To learn more about how you can get your company involved, please click here.
Where We Work
At The Library Project, we’re dedicated to improving children’s literacy in communities where access to books and learning resources is limited. We work with schools, community centers, and local partners to build libraries, provide teacher training, and support family reading at home.
Our goal is simple: to ensure every child, no matter where they live, has the opportunity to read, learn, and grow.
- Where We Work
- 2026-2028 Planned Growth