Open Books exists to promote literacy, and our programs are the heart of our mission. Read about them here and let us know how you'd like to be involved!

Open Books Buddies Reading Program

Through the Open Books Buddies program, adult volunteers and elementary school students experience the joy of reading together each week at schools around Chicagoland.

Learn more and apply to participate!

Adventures In Creative Writing Field Trips

What are Adventures In Creative Writing field trips? 2-hour writing workshops to help 4th - 12th grade students become proud authors and lifelong writers.

Learn more and apply to participate!

VWrite

Through the VWrite program at Open Books, "virtual" volunteers coach high school juniors on college- and career-related writing skills via weekly e-mail, instant message, and/or phone conferences. Topics may include college essays, resumes, cover letters, and e-mail etiquette. Volunteers read, edit, and make suggestions about student writing each week and listen, give advice, and assist students with personal goal-setting.

Learn more and sign up to participate!

WeWrite

WeWrite is a writing workshop program for adults. We focus on both creative (such as memoir, poetry, and journaling) and professional (resumes, cover letters, and online job applications) writing, including reading and performance of published and student work.

Learn more and sign up to participate!

Wordshops

In 2010, Open Books will be adding a new slate of reading and writing Wordshops for all ages. Are you an experienced educator or workshop leader? Could you volunteer to create and/or lead a Wordshop for us? The literacy department is open to your ideas for classes and workshops that benefit youth or families. We will consider one-time, multiweek, and year-round offerings — daytime and evening, weekend or weekday, depending on the best time to reach desired constituents. We also welcome partnerships with other organizations.

Find out more and apply to join us!

Open Connections Partnering and Referral

At Open Books, we have worked hard to foster an active network of nonprofit and community partnerships. We believe teamwork will help us solve the illiteracy crisis in Chicago and beyond. With that in mind -- plus an awareness that our volunteers and supporters have diverse schedules, locations, and interests -- we are thrilled to share volunteers and resources with more than 20 literacy organizations around Chicagoland, including Christopher House, Sit Stay Read, East Village Youth Center, and the Neighborhood Writing Alliance. Through our partner programs, Open Books volunteers have the opportunity to serve regularly in more than 30 neighborhoods!

For a list of our partners, please see our About page.

For more on partner volunteer opportunities, please see our Volunteer page.

Open Books Press

In November 2007, students from Kelli Rushek's class at George Henry Corliss High School participated in one of our write-in sessions for National Novel Writing Month. We were so inspired by working with them that we decided to publish their novels...and so was born Open Books Press.

Learn more and meet the Corliss Novelists!