Little Free Library

We're Bringing Diverse Books to Little Free Libraries Throughout Minnesota – and We Need Your Help!

Little Free Library is a trusted, award-winning nonprofit organization at the center of a global literacy movement. Now we're on a mission to bring diverse books to Little Free Libraries to communities around the U.S.!

Our Read in Color initiative distributes books that provide perspectives on racism and social justice; amplify BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized voices; and incorporate experiences from all identities for all readers.

Everyone deserves to see themselves in the pages of a book. And all of us can benefit from learning about experiences that are different from our own. By reading diverse books, we can increase understanding, empathy, and inclusion.

Can you help us meet our goal of sharing 100,000+ diverse books
through the Little Free Library network?

About Read in Color

Equity and inclusion are long-held values at LFL, but following George Floyd’s murder in 2020, we vowed to do more to raise awareness. 

Through the Read in Color initiative, we've distributed more than 50,000 diverse books around the country. We've also placed more than 250 Little Free Libraries full of diverse books in underserved areas, in partnership with local nonprofits. With your help, we can expand those efforts even further!

“We are excited to partner with Little Free Library and Read in Color as we look forward to aligning our mission around literacy. We’ll have community members seeing themselves as protagonists in books, parents reading to their children, and kids practicing reading. It’s a beautiful thing to envision having books that reflect the community they’re in.” 

– Benny Roberts, Urban Ventures VP of Youth Development, Minneapolis 

Read in Color has four key components:  

• Little Free Library installations. We are establishing new Little Free Library book-sharing boxes filled with culturally relevant books in high-need communities, working in tandem with local partners.
• Free diverse books. We work to fill Read in Color book-sharing boxes with high-quality, diverse books as often as possible. We also work to provide diverse books to as many Little Free Library book-sharing boxes as we can!
• Read in Color pledge. Everyone can sign a pledge indicating their commitment to read and share diverse books. Participants have the option to showcase their commitment on our Pledge Wall and have access to special Read in Color resources. (More than 8,100 people have signed so far!)
• Recommended reading lists. Our Diverse Books Advisory Group provides a list of multicultural books for children, adolescents, and adults representing Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian American, Muslim, LGBTQ+, and other communities.

How You Can Help

While the number of diverse books for children and teens is increasing, just 46% of children's books depict a non-white character. [Source.] We want to increase representation and empower all readers. With your gift, we can bring diverse books and Read in Color libraries to communities where they will make a difference.

Your donation will have an immediate impact:

• $25 provides Read in Color launch materials
• $100 provides a post for library installation
• $150 provides diverse books for a library
• $500 provides a Read in Color Little Free Library book-sharing box, post kit, and charter sign
• $2,500 provides a complete Read in Color package: a Little Free Library book-sharing box, post kit, charter sign, diverse books, support for the library steward, and shipping

“When children read inclusive books, seeds are planted in their minds, hearts, and souls—seeds of awareness, self-esteem, and connection. If enough such seeds are sown, they will blossom into a society that is far more just and equitable than we've ever experienced. Reading in Color is not just fancy for our children's entertainment. It is necessary for our collective survival.” 

– Tameka Fryer Brown, author of Brown Baby Lullaby and Read in Color advisor

Join us!

With more than 190,000 Little Free Library book-sharing boxes in urban, suburban, rural, and Native locations around the world, Read in Color will help amplify diverse voices at a grassroots, community level.

Please donate today! When we Read in Color and share diverse books, understanding, empathy, and justice can grow.