​A region-wide, independent collaboration to encourage early childhood literacy, Read to Me! ABQ Network has been a ready source of new or gently used children’s books for more than two decades, collecting hundreds of thousands of books. Most books go to school programs and learning centers where students and families need them most, in and around Albuquerque. Other distribution locations include laundromats, Little Free Libraries, food pantry sites, neighborhood associations, and community centers. We've also provided tens of thousands of books in Albuquerque city buses and the New Mexico Rail Runner.

We used to organize an annual children's book drive. However, Read to Me ABQ! Network recognizes that the need for books exists year-round, so efforts to both collect and distribute children's books are now ongoing throughout the year.  With donated funds, the network is also able to partner with local bookstores and distributors to purchase new books at reduced costs to better serve specific needs of young readers in and around Albuquerque. We are always looking for bilingual books in English and Spanish along with books in  English and other languages, in addition to books in indigenous languages to support our tribal areas within New Mexico. 

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​To date, books gathered by Read to Me! ABQ Network have been distributed to the following sites:

Elementary Schools

• A. Montoya
• Apache
• Arroyo Del Oso
• Bel-Air
• Chamiza
• Chaparral
• Chelwood
• Cochiti
• East San Jose
• Emerson
• Hawthorne
• Inez Science & Technology Magnet
• Kirtland
• Lew Wallace
• Longfellow Dual Language Magnet
• Los Padillas
• Matheson Park
• Mission Avenue STEM Magnet
• Mitchell
• Mountain Mahogany Charter
• Painted Sky
• Reginald Chavez
• E. G. Ross
• Rudolfo Anaya
• Susie Reyes Marmon 
• Valle Vista
• Whittier
• Wherry

Other Grades

• Albuquerque Sign Language Academy K–12
• Atrisco Heritage High School
• McKinley Middle School
• Mountain Mahogany Charter
• New Futures High School
• Washington Middle School

 
Local APS Programs

• APS Albuquerque Reads
• APS Elementary Reading Intervention
• APS McKinney-Vento Homeless Program
• APS Story Time in the Park

 
Schools Outside of APS

• Central New Mexico Community College (CNM)
• H2 Academic Solutions, Belen
• Katherine Gallegos Elementary School, Los Lunas
• La Promesa School, Veguita
• Los Lunas High School
• Rio Rancho Elementary School
• University of New Mexico (UNM)

Bernalillo County and City of Albuquerque Programs

• Bernalillo County: Tiny Home Village
• CABQ: Child & Family Development Centers 
• CABQ: Community Centers 
• CABQ: Foster Grandparent Program
• CABQ: RIDE
• CABQ: Wellness Hotels

Other Local Entities, Organizations, and Programs

• Bernalillo Public Library
• Bookworks
• Catholic Charities
• Chelwood Christian Reformed Church
• Children's Learning Center
• Cochiti Pueblo
• Explora
• El Ranchito de los Niños, Los Lunas
• Estancia Public Library
• Food is Free Albuquerque
• Forrester Neighborhood Halloween Party, Albuquerque
• Friends of the Library and Literacy, Rio Rancho
• Habitat for Humanity
• Immigration Detention Centers
• Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, UNM Alumnae
• La Promesa Early Learning Center
• Labor of Love, Lovelace Health Systems
• Laundromats
• Little Free Libraries
• Locker #505
• Lutheran Family Services
• Native American Guardians Association
• Navajo Nation
• NM Gas Company
• NM Corrections Department: Los Lunas, Grants
• NM Children, Youth & Families Department
• NM Department of Health: WIC
• NM State Fair Parade
• Peralta Methodist Church Men’s Recovery Academy
• PrimeTime 50+ Expo
• Rio del Sol Kiwanis, Farmington
• Rio Grande Food Project
• Sandia Valley Church of the Nazarene
• Santa Domingo Pueblo
• Shepherd of the Valley Preschool
• Shine Partnership
• Singing Arrow Neighborhood Association
• St. Vincent DePaul Society of Albuquerque
• Taos Municipal Schools
• The Teachers’ Toolbox (APS)
• United Way of CNM
• UNM: Food Pantry
• UNM: Student Nurses Association
• UNM: The Wemagination Center
• Wheels Museum
• Youth Development, Inc. Mobile Libraries