Open Books’ mission is to transform lives through reading, writing, and the GIVING power of used books.

Each year, Open Books and our corps of volunteers bring joyful experiences to 6,000 children through our literacy programs, which are designed to boost confidence, help students see themselves as readers and writers, and provide them with access to books.

Every writing program also provides students with an opportunity to become published authors. Through our book granting programs, we donate more than 180,000 books to children, families, and under-resourced communities across Chicagoland.