Children sitting on a colorful rug in a library, reading books in front of bookshelves filled with books. Overlaid text reads 'Transforming Books Into Libraries' and 'Changing Lives, Book by Book', along with icons indicating over 4000 libraries and

A librarian reading a book to a young child in a library with shelves of books in the background.

Children holding books attending an outdoor event in a rural area with grassy hills in the background.

A young man with glasses holding a microphone, speaking outdoors with trees in the background.

Group of eight diverse young people standing indoors in front of white shutters, with a table of books in front of them, promoting literacy and book drives.

Two men holding children's books, smiling, standing in front of a library-themed backdrop

Text that reads 'MINING' in large, beige letters on a white background.

Our international network of partners, volunteers, and community supporters transforms book drives into sustainable libraries throughout English-speaking regions in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Organize A Book Drive Today

A young girl in a blue school uniform and hijab sitting in a classroom, holding a book, with another girl in a yellow hijab in the background.

Organize A Book Drive

Too many children on the African continent grow up without books, while bookshelves and landfills elsewhere overflow with books no longer read.
In many of the rural areas we serve, libraries are rare—and even when they exist, they often have limited access to age-appropriate books.
In the communities we serve, teachers may have to teach reading, writing, math, or English without a single book in the classroom for students to use.
Access to books gives children the tools to think critically, nurture creativity, and imagine new possibilities for their future.

OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Partnership

We believe lasting change comes from working together with the people who know their communites best. That’s why ALP partners with local community leaders, organizations, colleges, and universities across Africa to create libraries that reflect the unique needs of each community.
Our role doesn’t end when the books arrive. We help ensure each library has what it needs to thrive over time by providing teacher-librarian training and supporting local leadership to sustain and grow their libraries.

Meet Our Partners
Involvement

Every library we create starts with people who care. Book drive organizers in the United States and Canada rally their communities to collect thousands of books. Donors worldwide provide the vital resources that make it possible for ALP to train teacher-librarians, strengthen partnership, and expand our reach to more schools.
And our partners in Africa, teachers, students, and community leaders, bring each library to life by managing the books and welcoming readers. Together, this global network of supporters transforms books into lasting opportunities for literacy, access, and opportunity.

Organize A Book Drive
Sustainability

For ALP, sustainability is about more than creating a library—it’s about ensuring it remains a resource for generations of readers. Each library begins with a string foundation of 500+ donated books that are reading-level appropriate and high-interest. We provide teacher-librarian training so the books are actively used in classrooms, and we partner with schools and community leaders who commit to caring for the library over time. Donor support strengthens these efforts by sustaining our logistics, training, and partnerships, ensuring ALP can keep promoting literacy and expanding access to books for young learners for years to come.

Learn More

New, Lower International
Shipping Fees!

Exciting News!

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, we’re making it easier to bring books to young readers in our partner countries, by reducing the required international shipping fee this year.

Full Library

Half Library