Improving literacy and overall student achievement are central to Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Chancellor Joel I. Klein’s Children First reform agenda.  School libraries serve as the perfect complement to this initiative, providing resources to support school curriculum and instruction. 

The Fund for Public Schools’ Library REACH (Revitalizing Education for Adolescents and Children) program uses private sector contributions to transform school libraries. Library REACH is based on the idea that a small amount of money – when strategically placed in the hands of an enthusiastic librarian and a principal with vision – can transform a public school library into a center for literacy and learning for the entire school community.  Through this competitive grant-making program, public schools throughout the city can apply for up to $10,000 to improve their libraries.  Since Spring 2005, over 100 privately funded grants have been awarded to individual schools.

In addition to Library REACH, The Fund also elects schools that are in need of more substantial school library improvements for Library REACH grants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000. 

Applications are now available, please click here.

For more information about the School Libraries initiative and Library REACH, please contact info@fundforpublicschools.org or call 212-374-2874. 

To learn more about how New York City’s retail community contributes to Library REACH through Shop for Public Schools, click here