National Book Access Association

Program Overview

National Book Access Association is designed for people who believe that giving away books is an important and sustainable way to improve literacy in people of all ages. As a member, you can learn from and support organizations that distribute new, gently used, and/or digital books for free.

Activities are be proposed and decided on by the membership through collaborative decision making. Events focus on shared learning and networking initiatives. Learning initiatives will be designed to enhance the capacity of book distribution organizations, providing colleagues with the knowledge and tools needed to effectively manage and grow their programs. Through multichannel networking initiatives, we aim to foster a sense of community among book distribution organizations, providing opportunities for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and support.

Together, these services support the field of book access as a profession and make a collective and meaningful impact in the lives of individuals who lack access to books and reading materials, and the people who serve them.

Cost Info

Student and Volunteer Success Stories

Our work has a rich history rooted in the belief that access to books is a fundamental right for all. The early 20th century saw the advent of bookmobiles and library outreach programs, but it was during the Great Depression that the government-funded Works Progress Administration (WPA) initiated the Pack Horse Library Project, which distributed books to rural areas. This program served as a precursor to many modern book distribution initiatives.

In the 1960s, Reading is Fundamental (RIF) was established, becoming the largest children's literacy nonprofit in the United States. RIF's impact is significant, but it became clear that access to books is more complex and deep rooted than one organization alone can address. Programs such as Reach Out and Read, leveraging the persuasive power of pediatricians, and the remarkable Dolly Parton's Imagination Library were created to encourage family reading and to provide children with books to keep. Little Free Libraries provide a way for individuals to become stewards on regular book gifting. However, there continues to be significant amount of Book Deserts across our country, although there are some promising book programs embedded in diverse communities, such as Barbershop Books and Laundry Cares. Still, with the recent educational and social/emotional set backs from the global pandemic, our collective work is more urgent than ever.

As awareness of the many independent organizations doing this work grew as a result of pioneering work with the #EndBookDeserts podcasts, conferences, and the Coalition for Literacy Equity. Book Fairies and Book Harvest held a series of Book Provisioning meetings in response to challenges brought against book distribution programs that served schools and summer programs due to the pandemic. The idea for this association came together in November 2022 as an offshoot of these efforts.