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Testimonials
"Working with Access Books Bay Area has been an incredible experience for our school community. Their partnership brought new life to our library. It has been transformed into a vibrant, welcoming space that truly inspires our students to read and explore. The team was thoughtful, organized, and deeply committed to equity and literacy for all children. Thanks to their work, our students now have access to high-quality books that reflect their experiences and spark their imaginations. We are so grateful for the lasting impact they’ve made at Lead School."
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- Natalie Delahunt, Principal, Lead Elementary School
"Access Books has been an amazing asset for our school! They helped transform our outdated library with over 1200 new books to inspire young readers. They also provided even more books for our classroom teachers, and our children have been so excited and happy to check out all the new books! They provided assistance to me (the librarian) in weeding and sorting books, and reorganizing my library. It's been the most amazing process, and they took the stress out of it with the number of volunteers and support they provided. If your library needs an update, apply for this grant, because it will change the lives of the children at your school!!"
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- Shannon McGovern, Librarian, Lead Elementary School
"Access Books Bay Area is so easy to work with and provides wonderful new books and small re-models to school libraries. They pretty much take care of everything from start to finish. A trained teacher-librarian picks books for the school (and they are wonderful selections!). Then, on a Saturday, a team of community members come in to label and shelve the books as well as paint beautiful murals in a designated library space. They do truly amazing work and have helped to revamp two libraries I work with in Redwood City. Thank you, Access Books Bay Area!"
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- Beth Berlin-Stephens, Redwood City School District Teacher-Librarian
"We are so grateful to Access Books Bay Area for their incredible generosity and support! They’ve continuously provided books for our Posadas/Christmas gifts to students as well as for our Summer Program and After School Programs at our shelters, helping us share the joy of reading year-round. We know that keeping kiddos engaged with books they want to read is key to keeping them motivated, and Access Books Bay Area does exactly that! They support learning through fun, engaging, and meaningful stories that inspire curiosity and a love of reading. Cathy and the team are always so helpful, resourceful, and kind. They go above and beyond to make sure every child has access to great books and opportunities to grow. We’re truly thankful for their partnership and the positive impact they’ve made in our community!"
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- Karina Magana, Education Manager, Amigos de Guadalupe
"Our family began volunteering with Access Books Bay Area in 2024, starting with a book donation drive. We've always treasured the way books can inspire, offer an escape, and bring pure joy, and we wanted to help others experience those same pleasures. After our drive, we became stewards of the organization's Little Free Libraries at three elementary schools. It has been a true blessing to witness the great need and demand for high-quality books among young, eager readers each time we replenish the libraries. We're looking forward to organizing another book drive collection with family and friends to continue our contribution to this wonderful organization."
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- Paulyn Cha, Volunteer at School Library Refurbishment
"As a long-time educator at a Title I school, I recognize the importance and need of getting quality books into the hands of children, especially those who may not have any books of their own at home. I love that Access Books does this in a variety of ways, including installing and maintaining free little libraries and overseeing complete refurbishment of school libraries. I have volunteered twice with Access Books. The first time, my teenage daughter and I painted murals on a library wall to brighten the space, and the second time, I helped label, organize, and shelve brand new books for a school library. I was impressed at the carefully curated selection of recent titles that reflect the cultural, religious, gender, and socioeconomic diversity of the Bay Area. I know first-hand the way seeing yourself in a book lights up a child's face and boosts their confidence in their identity. Kudos to Access Books for making such a great impact on literacy."
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- Susan Cabael, Volunteer at Garfield Community School
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