A region-wide, independent collaboration to encourage early childhood literacy, Read to Me! has been a ready source of new or gently-used children’s books for nearly 20 years.
Throughout the month of April, the Read to Me ABQ Network will be leading the annual book drive and children's book exchange.
This year, the team will be supported by students from eight different Albuquerque High Schools to collect thousands of new and gently used children's books.
Several local businesses continue to support this effort, now in it's 19th year. Due to the continuing pandemic there are fewer physical locations for the public to drop off books leading to an increased focused on financial donations. With donated funds, the network is able to partner with local book stores and distributors to purchase new books at reduced costs.
The book drive continues to request support of bilingual books in English/Spanish and English/Swahili. The network is also purchasing bilingual books that include several Native American languages to support our tribal areas within New Mexico.
Since the city-wide launch, almost 500,000 books have been collected. Most books are provided to Title 1 schools and learning centers whose students and families needed them most. Other distribution locations include hospitals, clinics, government offices (waiting rooms), neighborhood associations and community centers.
Tens of thousands of books have been loaded onto city buses and the Railrunner.
Throughout the month of April, the Read to Me ABQ Network will be leading the annual book drive and children's book exchange.
This year, the team will be supported by students from eight different Albuquerque High Schools to collect thousands of new and gently used children's books.
Several local businesses continue to support this effort, now in it's 19th year. Due to the continuing pandemic there are fewer physical locations for the public to drop off books leading to an increased focused on financial donations. With donated funds, the network is able to partner with local book stores and distributors to purchase new books at reduced costs.
The book drive continues to request support of bilingual books in English/Spanish and English/Swahili. The network is also purchasing bilingual books that include several Native American languages to support our tribal areas within New Mexico.
Since the city-wide launch, almost 500,000 books have been collected. Most books are provided to Title 1 schools and learning centers whose students and families needed them most. Other distribution locations include hospitals, clinics, government offices (waiting rooms), neighborhood associations and community centers.
Tens of thousands of books have been loaded onto city buses and the Railrunner.
