Rowan Childs and Deirdre Steinmetz were raised in households surrounded by books and developed a love of reading at an early age.
Now, as co-directors of the Madison Reading Project, they’re working to spark that passion in youngsters who haven’t enjoyed those same advantages.
Since its inception in 2014, the Madison Reading Project has become a leading force for youth literacy. It provides free books to underserved children throughout the greater Dane County area. Last year alone, the Madison Reading Project gave away over 100,000 new books and is on track for similar results this year.
The organization—which has 12 staff members and a fully active board—has enjoyed tremendous support through financial contributions to purchase engaging books in bulk and to receive new book donations from supporters. Its headquarters at 1337 Greenway Cross is a hub for storing and distributing a wide range of books tailored to various young readers.
“This community cares deeply about educating our young people, and I think our growth reflects that concern,” says Childs.
The Madison Reading Project offers programs across different age groups. For instance, the “My First Pages” program targets 0-5-year-olds, connecting families and educators with new books and literacy resources. A partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library also provides children five and under with one book per month delivered to their homes, serving over 12,000 children in Dane County. The Books for Educators program allows K-12 teachers and social workers to schedule free shopping appointments, selecting up to 25 books per year.
The project takes the show on the road through initiatives such as the Free Book Fair and Little Free Libraries stationed throughout Dane County. The group’s colorful Big Red Reading Bus has become synonymous with its outreach efforts, with a second bus brought into service earlier this year. It is much larger and impressively ADA-compliant, fitted with a lift to help all kids access the joy of books. Going to where kids are is an integral part of the initiative.
Distributing new books and providing literacy resources doesn’t happen for free. The Madison Reading Project holds two major fundraising events yearly: the Read(y) to Wear fashion show in June, where paper-crafted outfits are showcased, and the Community Book Drive, which launches on Nov. 6 and runs for the following four weeks.
Rowan, how did you come up with the concept for the Madison Reading Project?
After helping my own child identify what he liked to read when he was in first grade, I started to research the literary disparities in Dane County. I was shocked when the first Race to Equity report came out in 2013, highlighting the immense discrepancies in literacy rates in Dane County. So, with $1,000 in seed money and collaborators Will Green and Stephanie Berto, we started working with 30 kids in our pilot program at Salvation Army on Darbo Drive. A year later, we filed our non-profit paperwork; the rest is history.
Deirdre, why did you decide to get involved?
My mom was a librarian in a rural southwest Wisconsin town, so I spent a significant amount of time surrounded by books as a kid. I’ve worked in education and child care my entire life so when the opportunity to work with the Madison Reading Project was sent my way, the mission immediately clicked with me on a personal level. I knew what it was like to have limited financial means but also have access to any book that I wanted to read. I know now what a blessing that was and how important it is for kids to have access to books that reflect their interests and identities.
Rowan, how does the Community Book Drive work?
We work with individuals and businesses in our community to raise awareness and funds for our mission and to support our annual holiday giving partnerships. Every dollar raised during the Community Book Drive supports our holiday book giving for children and helps restock our shelves for the new year. We partner with the Empty Stocking Club and many charitable toy-giving organizations to ensure each kid gets a new book along with a toy. This year is especially momentous for us since we’re celebrating 10 years of giving free books to children and families in the greater Dane County area.
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