Open Books is a nonprofit literacy organization that helps transform lives through reading, writing, and the unlimited power of books. We partner with communities to ensure that youth and families have equitable access to be lifelong readers.

Open Books is committed to working in community with our neighborhood partners toward a collective effort to grow and foster a literacy-strong Chicago. We work to break down systemic barriers to reading and literacy and build strong values of reading. Through neighborhood partnerships, we design and implement literacy initiatives for youth, families, caregivers, and communities on the South and West sides of Chicago by providing high-quality resources, experiences, and book-centered spaces. We employ people power and a variety of pathways for books to fuel our placemaking initiatives so that reading can happen anywhere, anytime. This includes providing:

• Custom-curated libraries-in-a-box for Chicago Public Schools classrooms, home daycares, and other community partners and businesses;
• Large-scale events that provide opportunities for greater community cohesion through literacy;
• Fun, imaginative, and innovative in-school, out-of-school, and early childhood literacy programs;
• Choose-your-own-price community bookstores with free children’s books and additional affordable titles for the whole family. 

Books are a gateway to discovering new experiences. Reading is foundational and necessary at every age to freely shape one’s life and autonomously pursue possibilities. We believe equitable access to books is essential to inspiring a joy and love of reading for children and families and supports life-long learning, growth, empowerment, and prosperity.

Funding for our work comes in large part from generous donors and the sale of donated books in store at our Pilsen, West Loop, and Logan Square bookstores and online.