Open Books’ mission is to transform lives through reading, writing, and the unlimited power of books. Its model began in 2006 with a simple idea – to collect used books and sell them to support its literacy programs in Chicago. Since then, Open Books has expanded its programs to serve tens of thousands of Chicago youth, all in service to its vision that all of the city’s children have what they need to become lifelong readers.

Open Books collects approximately 1.5 million donated books every year that it repurposes in two ways – either by selling them as used inventory in its retail bookstores, currently in West Loop, Pilsen, and Logan Square or providing them free-of-cost to children and families who lack access to books through direct book grants, book nooks, and other community-based initiatives. Open Books’ reading and writing programs engage children, their caregivers, and volunteers in and out of school, typically in Chicago Public Schools, and complement community-based organizing tools to strengthen literacy among families, particularly on Chicago’s South and West Sides.