THE QUEST :

Plant a little library at every Detroit Public School. That’s 97 schools!
It’s never been done before. Never even been attempted!

WE DID IT!

All 97 Detroit Public Schools Have Been Sponsored!
Schools Sponsored So Far

To be honest, we are amazed not just that so many dedicated people pulled together and made this happen, but that we didn’t even get close to the 97-day deadline.

Here are just  few of the awesome people, groups, and companies who made it happen.

 

National Life Group and GLP & Associates
In one fell swoop, National Life came in and sponsored ALL remaining libraries. The news made us tear up! Thank you National Life. Jimmy Pollack, managing partner, for the company will be offering some comments on why his company made this amazing donation to support literacy among Detroit’s students.

DPSCD Superintendent Alycia Meriweather

The entire project was her brainchild and she ushered it through the tight spots.

Founder of Little Free Libraries Todd Bol

LFL not only is overseeing building most of the libraries, but gave Detroit free shipping to make the project economical. Plus, he pretty much came up with the little library movement that  is now a global phenomena.

Detroit Public Schools Foundations — Pamela Moore and her entire crew

DPSF not only provided the project’s financial backbone and sponsored several schools, but staff personally sponsored several libraries on their own dime.

Detroit Little Libraries — with Kim Kozlowski

Kim was the mover and shaker on the project, organizing from start to finish. DLL also sponsored a number of school.

Bookclubs

From Alaska to Montana several book clubs and book club websites, pitched in to spread the word and donate libraries.

The people of Detroit & the people who care about Detroit’s children

Dozens of individuals sponsored school libraries, some as a tribute to a love one who had passed, some to thank their communities and schools.

We could still use some help getting mounting posts. Chip in!

THE WHO:

An amazing group of organizations are pulling together because we believe in Detroit’s youth. 

Detroit School District

Alycia Meriweather reads to group of students.

The Quest for a Library at Every School is the brainchild of Interim Public School Superintendent Alycia Meriweather.

“An unapologetic focus on literacy is one my main areas of focus,” Meriweather said. When she began seeing little libraries popping up around Detroit, she saw the potential to put this focus into action and involve Detroit neighborhoods in ushering in a new era for the city’s schools.

Detroit Public Schools Community District will be siting, installing, maintaining, and stocking the libraries. Each library will bring years of book access to school children.

Detroit Public Schools Foundation


Detroit Public Schools Foundation will be offering tax deductible library sponsorships and donations.

They have already kicked the Quest off by sponsoring 10 libraries!

“We are excited to partner with the Little Libraries project to ensure that our DPSCD students and families have access to a world beyond their communities,” says Foundation Director Pamela Moore.  “This effort will open minds and open doors.”

Detroit Little Libaries

 Detroit Little Libraries is handling the logistics of the Quest. From creating the website and social media campaign, to ordering libraries, arranging shipment, to helping coordinate all the team members.

National Little Free Library Organization

 The national Little Free Library Organization has been rooting for Detroit’s little library effort since it began.

“If Detroit can pulls this off, it could become a model for cities across the country,” said Tony Bol, with the national Little Free Library nonprofit. “We’re excited to help Detroit and see where this could go.

For the Quest, it is building the libraries, advising, and generously shipping in bulk for free!

Where Books Are All But Nonexistent

In many high-poverty urban neighborhoods, it’s nearly impossible for a poor child to find something to read in the summer.
Read the entire article here.

  • “….efforts to close the ‘word gap’ often overlook a fundamental problem. In high-poverty neighborhoods, books—the very things that could supply so many of those 30 million-plus words—are hard to come by. In many poor homes, they’re nonexistent.”
  • “It’s designed to say to people, ‘strike down that notion that these people don’t care about their children’—they deeply care,” she said. “What they lack are the resources to enable their children to be successful.”
  • “Ultimately, giving kids access to books may be one of the most overlooked solutions to helping ensure kids attend school with the tools they need to succeed.”

THE WHY :

Interim Detroit School Superintendent Alycia Meriweather

“I am unapologetic about my focus on literacy…”

Meriweather puts out an “all-call” to the people of Detroit — every class, religion, race, district, every need and privilege — to come together in what we hold precious and in common…

our children