Book Bank
Help us get books into the hands of children who need them most.
What is the Book Bank?
From the shelves of our Book Bank at Shedpoint to the shelves of Little Red Reading House, Reading Place Affiliates, community agencies and Little Free Libraries, our book access movement has given thousands of children books of their very own to keep and get hooked on reading.
Book donations are welcome at our Book Bank, located at Shedpoint: 1212 34 Ave SE – Bay 120 on the east side of the building.
We can receive donations Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. or during our monthly book donation days.
Contact Dawn at dawnc@littleredreading.house to give her a little heads up.
Why is book ownership so important?
Every child has a right to read—and the chance to enjoy a bright start in school and in life.
Daily play and book reading with an adult helps protect against child developmental delay, late talking, and social-emotional delays.
Sources: McDonald et al. (2016), Research in Developmental Disabilities. Collison et al. (2016), Journal of Pediatrics. Martin et al. (2022), Pediatrics.
25% of families report they don’t spend time reading at home and 6% say they don’t own books.
Source: Logan et al. (2019). Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Clark et al. (2021). National Literacy Trust (United Kingdom)
When adults read to their young children, their children hear more words, participate in more back-and-forth talk, and their children talk more.
Source: Reggin et al. (2024)
How do we get books into community?
Our Little Red Reading Van is part mobile book bank and part pop-up reading place. The van travels from our Book Bank to Little Red Reading House, Little Free Libraries, Reading Place Affiliates and community agencies to top up books and host reading fun.
Since 2015, when our Book Bank was born in the basement of Little Red Reading House, we’ve seen:
166,547 books given to children at Little Red Reading House and via Book Bank
80 Little Free Libraries across Calgary stocked in part by our Book Bank and volunteers
109,556 books distributed to community agencies across Calgary and beyond since 2023
To the right is a list of the incredible organizations we have had the privilege to work alongside:
CUPS
Families Matter
Women’s Centre
Children’s Cottage
carya
YW
Discovery House
Miskanawah
Big Brothers Big Sisters
YCC
Calgary Food Bank
Habitat for Humanity
Closer To Home
Woods Homes
Catholic Family Service – Louise Dean Centre
Highbanks
The Alex
Rotary Clubs
Kiwanis Clubs
Calgary Pregnancy Care Centre
Hillhurst United Church
Foundation for Early Intervention
Centre éducatif La Forêt Enchantée Ltd
Centre D’Appui Familial
Awo Taan Healing Lodge
Calgary Police Youth Foundation
Trellis
Hull Services
Elizabeth House
Radisson Heights Housing
Marlborough Reads
Wymbin
Inglewood Community Association
Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth
The Book Bank needs your help
We are giving out more books than ever and we need our community’s help to keep our shelves stocked.
Whether you donate books, host a book drive or help spread the word, your support helps us get more books into the hands and homes of children.
Give Time or Host a Book Drive
Help us keep the Book Bank stocked and stories moving into the hands of children.
Volunteer your time or bring your school, workplace, team, club or community together to host a book drive. Learn More
Ready to host a book drive? Our Book Drive Kit has tips, resources and customizable materials to help you get started.
Give Books
We need new and like-new children’s books that kids will be excited to receive and take home. Quality over quantity: if you wouldn’t give the book to a child you know, it isn’t right for the Book Bank. Board books are especially needed.
Drop off donations at the Book Bank at Shedpoint (1212 34 Ave. S.E., Bay 120) Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or during our monthly book donation days.
Please give Dawn a quick heads-up before dropping off your books at dawnc@littleredreading.house.
Make a donation
Your financial support helps us continue getting books into the hands and homes of children across Calgary.
As part of the Owerko Centre at the University of Calgary, Little Red Reading House is generously supported by the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation. Donations can be made through the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation’s website.
When asked ‘What prompted your gift?’ please leave a comment that your gift was inspired to support the Little Red Reading House. Thank you so much for your support!
Book Donation Guidelines
We gratefully accept gently loved children’s books that are clean and in good condition. Donating quality books helps ensure every child receives a book they will be excited to read.
We happily accept:
- Clean, lightly used books
- Books with minimal wear
- Pages that are intact and free from writing or colouring
- Covers and bindings that are secure
We are not able to accept:
- Books with torn or missing pages
- Books with writing, highlighting, or colouring
- Water-damaged, mouldy, or heavily stained books
- Books with broken bindings or loose pages
Thank you for helping us close the literacy gap and share the joy of reading with children and families in our community!
Upcoming Book Bank Donation Days
October
3
October Book Donation Day
Help us get books into hands and homes that need them! If you have new and/or gently used children's books to donate, we're accepting donations at Shedpoint, 1212 34 Avenue SE (Bay 120), in Calgary on Saturday, October 3, 2026 between 10 am and 1 pm. We accept Baby Board Books, Picture, Chapter and Young Adult books. See you there!
November
7
November Book Donation Day
Help us get books into hands and homes that need them! If you have new and/or gently used children's books to donate, we're accepting donations at Shedpoint, 1212 34 Avenue SE (Bay 120), in Calgary on Saturday, November 7, 2026 between 10 am and 1 pm. We accept Baby Board Books, Picture, Chapter and Young Adult books. See you there!
December
5
December Book Donation Day
Help us get books into hands and homes that need them! If you have new and/or gently used children's books to donate, we're accepting donations at Shedpoint, 1212 34 Avenue SE (Bay 120), in Calgary on Saturday December 5, 2026 between 10 am and 1 pm. We accept Baby Board Books, Picture, Chapter and Young Adult books. See you there!
Thank you, Book Bank supporters!
What does it mean to a child to have a book of their very own? Some would say, everything. Thank you to the many volunteers, partners and donors who help us get children books to fall in love with.
FAQ
What kinds of books do we accept?
We are grateful to receive high quality new or like-new books for babies, children and teens. We have the highest demand for new board books.
What kinds of books do we not accept?
We can’t accept books that are damaged, ripped, marked up or are not like-new in some way.