The Book Drop – Fostering Early Childhood Literacy
Recognizing the community’s steadfast support of our mission for over 278 years, the Charleston Library Society is proud of its bold new initiative called the Book Drop.
Simply put, the goal is to improve and increase access to books for children ages birth to five years old to foster literacy during the most critical years. Early exposure to books is crucial in the development of vocabulary, self-expression, imagination, and comprehension – necessary tools for school preparedness and ongoing success.
All children should enjoy the magic of reading, and the power of our community can make this happen TOGETHER.
“Partnering with the Charleston Library Society to bring the Little Library to Dantzler has been so important to us! Literacy is essential to the healthy development of PEOPLE, not just children. Nurturing early readers makes literacy goals attainable. MUSC is committed to serving patients in South Carolina. In primary care, we have a responsibility to ensure we enrich our patients lives, not just care for their bodies. Folding literacy into our practice at MUSC allows us to support patients and families with a more in-depth level of care. Engaging with caregivers to encourage them to bring home whatever books speak to them is my way of telling them our clinic cares about their child’s development. I really enjoy watching them walk away with an armload of books!!!
– MUSC Health, a Book Drop Location Partner ”
THE HAPPENINGS
As a part of our expansive collection of donated books, each book includes a QR code linked to a collection of read-alouds for you and your little one to enjoy together.
The official kick-off for the Book Drop initiative took place at its inaugural fundraiser on September 26, 2024. With the involvement of Jenna Bush Hager and 22 incredibly talented authors and luminaries, the Book Drop successfully raised over $60,000 in funding, which will directly support the supply of books to those in need.
READ more about the launch event here.
Following a banner success with the inaugural fundraiser in 2024, the Book Drop hosted the inaugural Up, Up, and Read! in 2025, a children’s literary festival focused on raising awareness for the efforts of the Book Drop and to get children across Charleston excited about reading. After three fun-filled days of crafts, treats, music, story times with beloved local authors, and a book fair with our partner Buxton Books, we are even more excited for years to come.
WHAT WE KNOW (the WHY)
Readers ARE within Reach
- Nearly all brain development occurs in the first three years of life. A child’s brain is 80% developed by age three, and 90% by age five
- From birth, babies are hardwired to develop language skills. Even the tactile experience of holding or touching a book supports babies’ cognitive development
- In the greater Charleston community, there are many resources and support for literacy from Kindergarten onward, but Early Childhood remains the largest gap
- South Carolina, along with parts of Georgia and Alabama, comprise a “literacy desert” where children sorely lack exposure to books at an early age—often because their caregivers have limited means and/or time to foster reading, or because there is simply no access to affordable or free books
- South Carolina’s education system is ranked 49th in the US with no access to universal Pre-K
“Once you learn to read, you will forever be free.
– Frederick Douglass ”
IMPACT (the HOW)
'FIRST LIBRARY' BOOK SET
In partnership with Books in Every Bag, the Library Society will create and fund the cost of a ‘First Library’ Book Set, offsetting an unsustainable expense for their Birth-Age Five literacy efforts that reach 800 newborns a month. The CLS First Library will follow the first three stages of early literacy as well as include a Read-Aloud component to remove barriers for families facing adult literacy challenges.
The CLS ‘First Library’ will also be available for sale in participating retail stores, with all proceeds fueling Book Set reprints and circulation.
LITTLE FREE LIBRARIES
Little ‘Free Libraries’ will physically bring a library of books to those without access. These ‘CLS outposts’ will be strategically installed at community partner locations in targeted literacy deserts around Greater Charleston where families with children ages birth-5 years old (readers in reach) can continually get free books.
The books for these ‘CLS Outposts’ will be possible through the recirculation of donations, new books purchased with monies raised by the Book Drop initiative, and any books gifted by participating publishers.
LIBRARY FULFILLMENT
The entire community can participate in bringing the Library to those without direct access. Through our Book Drop, children’s books will be collected at convenient ‘drop’ locations such as participating schools, pediatrician offices, and others from Mount Pleasant all the way out to Kiawah Island. After being sorted at the Library Society, they will be sent out on the bookmobile for recirculation.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
We want to bring the Charleston Library Society to young families who may not be able to access a library. Partnerships can serve to strengthen, support, and even transform individual offerings, resulting in improved program quality, and a more effective use of resources.
The Charleston Library Society has aligned with Books in Every Bag for a key element of our “Book Drop” initiative, providing the first book that is needed for every bag they deliver to a child. The Books in Every Bag program provides an enrollment opportunity for every newborn to have a book a month until age 5 (program currently offered at MUSC Children’s Health, Roper and Northwoods hospitals, approx. 800/month).
Together, our community can equalize opportunity for all children to have access to books.
QUESTIONS? LET'S GET IN TOUCH
We are accepting all forms of support in making this initiative possible: whether you or your organization would like to support the Book Drop initiative in a lasting way by being a Founding Sponsor or Community Partner, by promoting the Launch Event through sponsoring or offering an in-kind donation, or by funding CLS First Library Sets OR Little Free Libraries.
To secure a sponsorship, please contact Jennifer Comer, Director of Development, at jcomer@charlestonlibrarysociety.org.
For all other inquiries about the Book Drop, please contact Justine Buckley, Children’s Programming Coordinator, at jbuckley@charlestonlibrarysociety.org.
