How The Little Free Library Movement Helps Local Communities

Increased time spent reading is a direct consequence of being in proximity to free books, a study led by Pier Partners and the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools concluded. In a survey of 11 schools, students visited nearby Little Free Libraries on school trips and found that recognition and access to the program improved students’ reading time and allowed for greater access to books.

Little Free Library

Founded in 2009, Little Free Library is a nonprofit that builds and promotes neighborhood book exchanges where community members can donate, swap, and take home books for free. At its core, Little Free Library is committed to providing a global network of book-sharing in every community.

Since its inception, Little Free Library has established book exchanges in 128 countries. In March 2025, they celebrated their 200,000th book box, marking a significant milestone for the nonprofit. They maintain a particular commitment to “underserved urban, suburban, rural, and Indigenous communities” where access to books is much less likely.

The Study

In November 2024, the Pier Partners consultancy group, in collaboration with The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS), led a multi-site observation of 768 children in Baltimore County, Maryland, to assess the impact of Little Free Library in their neighborhoods. The schools of Baltimore County are diverse in population and economic status.

Out of the 11 schools included in the survey, eight were considered low-income, six were majority BIPOC student body, and three had 20% or more English language learners or 15% of the special education population.

The key findings of the study concluded:

• 92% of children had greater access to books with Little Free Library in their community
• An uptick in reading frequency with access to Little Free Library. Children living near the book exchange read, on average, 1.1 days per week — a 49% increase
• 88% of children reported keeping more books at home
• 90% of students found higher-quality books to bring home

Why It Matters

The world, and the U.S. in particular, is facing a literacy crisis. According to data from Reading Is Fundamental, 61% of U.S. children living at or below the poverty line have no books at home, while 25 million children in the U.S. do not meet reading proficiency standards. In areas with high poverty rates, access to quality learning materials and books can be hard to come by, often taking a back seat to objects of necessity.

Organizations like Little Free Library are committed to serving communities and providing free access to books with proven positive impacts — a right we all deserve.