Children who are surrounded by books spend more time reading—particularly those in underserved school districts. Such is the conclusion of a recent study conducted by Little Free Library and the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, the first part in a multi-site observational report seeking to uncover children’s reading habits.
“Convenient, widespread access to books turns reading into an everyday activity,” said LFL executive director Greig Metzger. “Like everyday physical activity, when students can ‘stretch’ their minds, they become stronger readers, thinkers, and students.”
If You Build It, They Will Come
Conducted from September to November 2024, LFL’s study surveyed 768 elementary and middle school-aged students from 11 schools and two community spaces. Of the participating institutions, eight were classified as low-income, six had a majority of BIPOC students, [three had a population of more than 20% English Language Learners and six schools had more than 15% special education students. All students had access to neighboring Little Free Libraries, which they visited during class field trips or on their own.
According to this study, 92% of students had greater access to books because of Little Free Library boxes, 49% read more frequently (an average of 1.1 additional days per week), and 88% of children have built their own at-home book collections. Also of note was the significant impact that book-sharing boxes had on critical student demographics. ELL students demonstrated the greatest boost in frequency, with 72% reading books when they visited a Little Free Library, followed by BIPOC students (63%) and those attending low-income schools (62%).
In addition to boosting overall reading time, the report also revealed participants’ love for reading in general. Ninety percent reported finding high-quality books, 87% discovered books that excited them, and 75% uncovered books with relatable characters. Baltimore’s Little Free Libraries visitors favor graphic novels, including Dog Man and The Land of Stories series. Older students tend to gravitate toward such authors as Raina Telgemeier (Smile; Sisters; Guts); Angie Thomas (The Hate U Give; Concrete Rose) and Jason Reynolds (Long Way Down).
As a follow-up to this report, Little Free Library will be exploring other communities for subsequent studies. “We have started conversations with the Association of Rural & Small Libraries, and working together on research is a priority,” Metzger said. “We have also connected with a number of potential Indigenous partners that are part of our Indigenous Library Program to see how we might work together to understand the influence of Little Free Library in those situations.”
