Literacy Resources
Information
Books make a difference!
“After examining statistics from 27 nations, University of Nevada, Reno researchers found the presence of book-lined shelves in the home — and the intellectual environment those volumes reflect — gives children an enormous advantage in school.” – Effects of Home Libraries on Educational Advantage, Department of Sociology, UNR.
Literacy is a gift that will benefit a child for their entire life. The following list is provided in order to help those wanting to make a difference, but are unsure of where to start. If you find an error, or would like to add a resource, please contact us.
The Reno Sparks Kiwanis club reaches out to children throughout northern Nevada. In addition to free books to at-risk kids and adults, they provide bike repair clinics and distribute over 600 bikes and over 1500 helmets annually.
Washoe County School District Volunteer Services
- Overview of Volunteer Services
Forms, applications, instructions, and FAQs for getting started - Want to do a Book Drive?
Community book drive information, and current community events. - Read and Succeed (Kindergarten Through 6th Grade/RTI Tier 2 Intervention)
The Read and Succeed training sessions train volunteers in tutoring below grade level students in reading.
- Free leftovers for teachers, nonprofits, and quasi-nonprofits after every warehouse sale (every 4 weeks or so). Typically all kids books are gone in the first 20 minutes of the giveaway, however more than 5,000 adult books are available.
- Deals for organizations that are giving books to kids. Click on the link for full details of the program.
- Accepts kids books for Kiwanis, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Washoe County School District to give to at-risk children. Donation baskets and bins can be found inside the store. Donations of DVDs, CDs, adult books go to Kiwanis, which receives the cash value.
- Free used, unstickered book for everyone, once a calendar year. Choose from over 10,000 books. (clicking on the link will take you to a downloadable coupon)
- Borrow books for free. (How to get a library card)
- Free one-to-one help from certified tutors online for students of all ages. Brainfuse eLearning is accessible simply by entering your library card number.
