Little Town Library
Promoting Literacy and Life-Long Readers in Oakland
In collaboration with the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, opens a new window, founded by Ayesha and Stephen Curry along with community partners Oakland Literacy Coalition and the Black Cultural Zone, opens a new window, Oakland Public Library has established Little Town Libraries throughout Oakland.
The Little Town Library Initiative aims to improve low literacy rates among elementary-aged children in Oakland by:
Reaching kids and families in their own communities with a special emphasis targeting Oakland’s flatlands including East Oakland, West Oakland, Chinatown, and Fruitvale communities.
Promoting both school and neighborhood book-sharing to inspire a lifelong passion for reading.
Celebrating diversity with a collection of culturally affirming books that represent a variety of voices and stories, ensuring that all readers can see themselves in the literature they read.
Why Little Town Libraries?
According to Oakland Reads:
- Nationally, only 1 in 3 children are reading at grade level by the end of third grade.
- In Oakland, only 15.4% of Black children and 12.5% of Latino/a children are reading at grade level.
- The pandemic has intensified these disparities, particularly for Oakland’s most vulnerable populations.
Locations and Partners
- Arroyo Viejo Recreation Center
- Brookdale Park
- Carmen Flores Recreation Center
- Centro Infantil Early Childhood
- Clinton Park
- Courtland Creek Park
- De Fremery Park
- East Oakland Boxing Association
- East Oakland Youth Development Center
- Golden Gate Recreation Center
- Ira Jinkins Community Center
- Lincoln Mandela Family Resource Center
- Lincoln Square Recreation Center
- Manzanita Recreation Center
- Oakland Housing Authority - Peralta Village
- Rainbow Recreation Center
- Room to Bloom East Oakland
- Tassafaronga Recreation Center
- The FAM Oakland: Food Art Music Inc.
- Tomás Melero-Smith Mini Park
- Willie Keyes Recreation Center
Learn More
Contact Manuel Hernandez
(510) 615-5812
The Little Town Libraries features art by the Illuminaries, a Bay Area based collective of professional street art muralists and graphic artists.
