This past Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service, Global Citizen hosted hundreds of service projects at Girard College in North Philadelphia and countless others across the region. Because quality early education helps students succeed in school and in life, this year’s signature project supported the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Read by 4th initiative and PHLpreK, Philadelphia’s new, locally-funded pre-K program.

Hundreds of volunteers constructed 150 book nooks to be distributed to small businesses and community organizations across the city. The book nooks are designed to create reading sanctuaries within these sites, and each includes a small bookshelf stocked with 80 brand new, captivating books for children ages 0-8, along with colorful rugs and a matching comfy chair. Scholastic generously donated 18,000 books to stock the book nooks as well as classroom libraries in 100 participating PHLpreK programs.

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One of the book nook recipients was Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP). Book nooks have been added to the visitor’s lobby of all six jails within the PDP. To celebrate this new resource for visiting children and families, Mayor Kenney joined Prison Commissioner Blanche Carney and Deputy Prisons Commissioner Terrell Bagby as they accepted the new book nooks.

The PDP hopes that this initiative will help young visitors develop a love of reading. Book nooks can be found at other organizations and businesses where children often face long wait periods, such as laundromats, barbershops, and health centers.

Check out highlights of the PDP receiving their book nooks via CBS3 or learn more about the Read by 4th initiative.