Open Books

Open Books brings LGBTQ+ affirming stories to school libraries, so every child can feel like they belong. To date, we have reached 1,038,362 students and 1,529 schools, donating over 22,623 books. Open Books imagines a day when schools are full of stories that make every student feel seen. Until that day, we will champion access to diverse and affirming literature, to communicate that the LGBTQ+ experience is real and all children are valued. We harness the power of books with our three-pronged approach: (1) By donating to a school library, all children in the school can access the books. The books remain on library shelves for up to a decade. (2) Through early stage intervention, we provide stories of self-acceptance to help every student build confidence and a strong sense of self. (3) By working district-down—i.e. donating to each school in the district of that level—we ensure equitable access to LGBTQ+ affirming books. The research is clear: students feel safer and learn better when they have diverse libraries.