Streetside Library

Streetside Library's mission is to improve literacy and educational achievement by providing high-quality, diverse, relevant books that engage young minds.

Streetside Library is dedicated to bridging the literacy gap in New Orleans by building a community of readers. Through our unique model of free library services, we seek to inspire a love of reading, in turn strengthening literacy skills, job readiness and supporting academic success. We focus on those readers that have the greatest difficulty accessing books, providing high-quality and relevant books that reflect these readers' interests and experiences. We are currently working with the New Orleans Women and Children's Shelter, Covenant House, Ozanam House, Waldo Burton, Raintree House and several public schools. For shelters, we supplement and maintain existing libraries, consult on literacy-based activities for residents, and hold book fairs so that residents can build their own libraries as they move to permanent housing. We work with teachers to develop classroom libraries, helping to create an inviting library for all children. We also have community partners, such as Love Your Neighbor NOLA, The Jesus Project, and Who Dat Barbershop, whom we assist by providing books for giveaways, creating libraries within their facilities, and helping with literacy programs.

Testimonials

What stood out about working with Streetside Library is their commitment to providing all the services of an actual library. Most children who are experiencing homelessness are under the academic level of their age, and Streetside Library is teaching the skills that many of our children do not have.

What sets you apart is your unwavering consistency. Not only have you created a library, but you continuously ensure that it remains an enriching, welcoming space with books that reflect our diverse occasions and seasons.

Your commitment to consistently providing a diverse range of books, especially those that resonate with specific events and holidays, has made a profound impact.