For the third year, the Library is hosting a campus-wide drive to collect children’s books for donation to Pawtucket, RI-based organization Books Are Wings.

We collected 758 books! Many thanks to everyone who contributed!

Congratulations to Penina Posner, Senior Library Specialist – Gateway Services, for coming closest to guessing how many books we donated in a Library staff contest. Penina won a tote bag full of Library swag.

Benefits of books in the home

Having access to books in the home is documented to have long-ranging, positive effects. A 2018 study published in Social Science Research demonstrated “that adolescent exposure to books is an integral part of social practices that foster long term cognitive competencies spanning literacy, numeracy and ICT [information and communication technologies] skills,” and that “growing up with home libraries boosts adult skills in these areas beyond the benefits accrued from parental education or own educational or occupational attainment.” The number of books in the home associated with significant literacy gains is between 80 – 350.

Books Are Wings works with students around the state of Rhode Island with a focus on communities where children often do not have their own books at home. 

Where and when to donate

Please bring your donation to the lobby of the Rockefeller Library, 10 Prospect St., and place them in the bin next to the reader services desk or on the book truck under the large monitor on the wall. Donations will be accepted until Friday, December 15.

Want to contribute but don’t have children’s books at home?

You can make a monetary donation or make a purchase from the organization’s Amazon wish list, either on Amazon or at a local independent bookseller.

Things to consider when donating books

Children’s books only

Books Are Wings accepts baby books through fifth grade level books.

Condition is important

Please no books with mildew, old library books, or damaged books.

Content is key

Books in different languages and/or about BIPOC characters are in demand. They provide children with the opportunity to select books that are representative of them and that are historically accurate.

Books Are Wings is not able to accept the following types of books:

• Adult books
• Textbooks/reference books
• Religious books (They partner with local faith organizations to donate religious books.)

Thank you!