About Us

READ Library—which stands for Resources, Education, Accessibility, Development—was born from a lived experience.

In March 2025, our founder, a longtime librarian and library manager, checked into a behavioral health facility for a seven-day inpatient stay. Having spent her career surrounded by books and community resources, she instinctively brought a small collection of books with her, thanks to the support of her partner. What she didn’t expect was how profoundly those books would impact others around her.

During her stay, a roommate—an avid reader going through detox—noticed the books stacked at her bedside and asked to borrow one. She hadn’t brought anything with her, nor was she willing to contact family or friends to drop things off. The facility didn’t provide any reading materials, even though there were bookshelves built into the walls—completely empty.

After getting approval from staff to donate appropriate books, our founder placed one on the shelf when she finished reading it. What happened next sparked the inspiration for READ Library: the book was passed from patient to patient, offering not just entertainment, but comfort, distraction, and connection. For individuals in treatment—many of whom don’t have the ability or support to bring in personal items—something as simple as a book became a valuable resource and a quiet lifeline.

That moment revealed a major gap: most behavioral health and rehabilitation facilities don’t provide adequate access to reading materials, and patients often have no way to get them. READ Library exists to change that.

We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to delivering free books and educational materials to patients in behavioral health and rehab centers. Our mission is to support recovery, dignity, and mental wellness by making literature accessible to those who need it most—especially when they are unable to access public libraries or depend on loved ones for basic comforts.

READ Library is rooted in empathy, advocacy, and a belief in the transformative power of books. We serve a population that is often overlooked—and we’re here to make sure they’re not forgotten.