Building Home Libraries

Sometimes, the most powerful gift a child can receive is a book they get to keep.

Books in the home help children build reading skills, strengthen vocabulary, and support success in school. Just as importantly, stories help young people understand emotions, develop empathy, and see themselves reflected in the world around them.

Research consistently shows that access to books at home is one of the strongest predictors of educational success. A 2023 white paper from Scholastic Education Research found that home libraries are directly linked to student achievement and lifelong success, and are among the most effective tools communities have to combat learning loss.

When children have books of their own, reading becomes more than an assignment - it becomes part of everyday life. Home libraries encourage reading for pleasure, helping young people build curiosity, confidence, creativity, and a lifelong love of learning.

Through branch programs, partner and community events, and systemwide initiatives like Summer Learning and To the Library, Kitsap Regional Library helps children and teens across Kitsap build home libraries at no cost to families.

For many young people, choosing a book to take home is also an important moment of belonging. Stories can help children feel seen, valued, and understood while introducing them to experiences and perspectives beyond their own.

Thanks to generous donors and a community that believes in the power of reading, children and teens across Kitsap are building home libraries of their own.

Together, our community is creating brighter futures - one child, one book, and one story at a time.