National Book Foundation Marks Two Million Free Books Distributed Through Book Rich Environments

The initiative surpasses two million books donated by publishers to young people and families living in public housing communities across the United States

Launched in 2017, the Book Rich Environments program connects families living in public housing communities with free, high quality, diverse books and literacy resources that foster a life-long, joyful relationship with reading. The tri-sector initiative, led by the National Book Foundation, is a collaboration between national government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and publishers, with the US Departments of Education (ED) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Urban Libraries Council, and the National Center for Families Learning serving as key planning partners. By this summer, the program will have distributed over two million free books in partnership with public housing authorities, local libraries, community centers, and additional partners.

Book Rich Environments is a nationwide effort to transform areas that lack access to literary resources, often termed “book deserts,” into communities where children and families have access to an abundance of culturally diverse books. The program works with public housing communities to strengthen home libraries, facilitate book-distribution events, and connect children and families with local libraries, reading-related resources, and ongoing literacy activities, including virtual and in-person author events. Since its inception, Book Rich Environments has hosted more than 4,100 free book giveaway events and served over 850,000 young people in more than 60 public housing communities across 37 states and the District of Columbia. Of the 17 new communities added in recent years, 12 communities are the first Book Rich Environments initiatives in their state, 4 communities are in states most impacted by book banning, 3 are new rural communities, and 1 is a tribal community.

“We are committed to reaching readers in every corner of the country, especially those who often experience the greatest barriers to access,” said Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation. “From more rural communities in Gregory, Texas and the Navajo Nation across Arizona and New Mexico to some of the country’s largest metropolitan areas, including Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, and New York City, we are fortunate to work alongside our national and local partners to provide readers of all ages with brand-new books. We look forward to getting millions more free books to young people and families across the United States.”

This year alone, the initiative has secured nearly 350,000 high-quality, diverse books that will be distributed to young people and families living in HUD-assisted communities with thanks to generous book donations from returning publishing partners Candlewick Press, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Random House, Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, and Sourcebooks, as well as new publishing partners Bloomsbury Publishing and W. W. Norton & Company.

“Penguin Random House has supported the Book Rich Environments program since 2017, donating over 630,000 books to children and families in public housing communities across the country,” said Claire von Schilling, EVP and Director, Corporate Communications and Social Responsibility at Penguin Random House. “We are committed to continuing this support through our ongoing partnership with the National Book Foundation to get more books into the hands of young readers everywhere.”

Book Rich Environments has also secured a grant from the nonprofit organization First Book to bring books to even more readers this summer.

“First Book is dedicated to ensuring that all children, regardless of their background or zip code, can succeed, by removing barriers to equitable education,” said Maggie Gunter Osborn, First Book Vice President of Network Engagement and Partnerships. “That’s why we’re excited to collaborate with the National Book Foundation to get diverse, quality books into the hands of children living in book deserts.”

Each year, book-distribution events offer English and Spanish language titles for readers ages 0-18. With input from participating communities, bilingual titles in Anishinaabemowin, Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Somali, and more languages will be available for the first time. Titles by beloved children’s and YA authors such as Eric Carle, John Green, Daniel José Older, and Katherine Paterson, as well as titles by National Book Award–honored authors Elizabeth Acevedo, Kwame Alexander, Angie Thomas, Jason Reynolds, Rita Williams-Garcia, Jacqueline Woodson, and many more will be provided. The free books will be distributed throughout 60 partnering communities across the country at an estimated 1,000 local events—alongside library card sign-ups, Bookmobile outreach services, arts and crafts, STEAM enrichment and school-readiness programs, neighborhood block parties, and more, all designed to immerse families in their community’s literacy offerings and creating a thriving culture of reading.

 “Thanks to Atlanta Housing’s persistent efforts, nearly 15,000 youth have received brand-new books through Book Rich Environments at our resident events and in our Roosevelt Hall library and headquarters’ lobby. This partnership helps families build home libraries and fosters a lifelong love of reading,” said Atlanta Housing President and Chief Executive Officer Terri M. Lee. “Atlanta Housing is dedicated to providing affordable housing as a stabilizing force for families, and we are equally committed to inspiring the dreams, goals, and imaginations of our young scholars through access to books and educational resources.”

With a focus on providing free books, programming, and vital connections to local resources, the program seeks to make long-lasting impact within public housing communities, helping to create sustainable, vibrant, and accessible book rich environments. For more information about Book Rich Environments, visit our website.

All participating Book Rich Environments communities can be found below.

(Photo credit: Tyrell Swain)