Reading is the single most important skill a child needs to succeed in life. Yet, too many children lack books, especially books of their own in their home.
At Bernie’s Book Bank, we’re here to change that. Bernie’s Book Bank transforms children’s lives through book ownership by sourcing, processing, and distributing free high-quality books to children who need them most.
Join us.
Founded by Brian Floriani in 2009, Bernie’s Book Bank was inspired by his father, Dr. Bernard P. Floriani, who, never without a book, read his way to a better life.
In our first 12 months, we sourced, processed, and distributed 140,000 children’s books. In our second year, we expanded our operation and reach and distributed 350,000 free, high-quality children’s books. By the end of 2012, our third year, we had distributed 1 MILLION high-quality, age-appropriate books into the hands and homes of children in under-resourced communities.
Today, we have hand-delivered over 29 million free, high-quality books. Our effective, scalable, and sustainable model allows us to source, process, and distribute eight books every year to children from birth to sixth grade so they can have a home library of their very own and always have a book within reach.
Funded by generous donors and committed companies and fueled by a passionate team of partners and volunteers, we believe better futures begin with books.
Bernie’s Book Bank was founded and served over 3,000 local children in our first year.
Reached a major milestone: 1,000,000 free, high-quality children’s books distributed.
We opened a dedicated Chicagoland facility, powered by 1,600 monthly volunteers who help sort, pack, and distribute books.
With generous funding from the Arnold Family Foundation, we conducted a 5-year randomized control trial measuring the impact of book ownership.
Honored with the Dyer Pearl Literacy Award at the Kennedy Center by the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.
We expanded nationally to Greater Milwaukee, reaching 60 new schools and more than 20,000 additional children.
Celebrated the distribution of our 10-millionth book in partnership with Chicago Public Schools.
We expanded to Florida’s Suncoast with a goal to serve all 343,000 qualifying children across 12 counties.
Driven by a passionate collective of volunteers and partners, we supply children who need them with free, high-quality books to build in-home libraries of their very own.
Ensure literacy for children tomorrow by helping to build a library in every home in America today.
Ending the children’s literacy crisis in America is the heart of non-profit Bernie’s Book Bank. Our values guide our urgency, focus, and relentless commitment every day.
Committed to giving before receiving, we go all-in with each other, sharing a passion for literacy, service, and connection.
Our pace is urgent, some say unstoppable. And our passion for solving a solvable problem is contagious.
We believe in the power of working hard to do hard things together, positively, united in what’s possible.
We stay laser-focused on our mission, and what we do best.
Literacy is not a luxury. Books are not just a nice thing to have. Children are counting on us. We do not take this lightly. We take it personally.
Become an important member of our team and a crucial part of the solution.