What We Do

In a Nutshell

The Children's Reading Room (CRR) is a charitable family resource organization that promotes early literacy development and a love of books and reading. Whenever anyone visits the CRR, they leave with free children's books to keep, read, love and cherish for as long as they wish. There is no need to sign up for a membership or return the books. The Children’s Reading Room is a welcoming, accessible, and comfortable place where families can socialize, browse for favourite books, read to their children, participate in planned literacy-focused activities for ages 0-12, and, of course, build their own home libraries! Designed by two registered early childhood educators, the environment is inclusive and barrier-free. Beyond the space, located in Guelph’s Willow West neighbourhood, the CRR's Book Nooks Program maintains attractive bookshelves with free, high-quality books in community centres around the city. This approach expands the organization’s mission to Guelph’s other high-needs neighbourhoods. The majority of the books distributed by the CRR are donated from the community, which contributes to building a strong and sustainable circular economy.

Our Mission

Through engagement with families in an inclusive community space and distribution of children’s books free of charge, our mission is to enhance literacy skills, family wellness and promote a lifelong love of reading!

Our Purposes

To advance education by providing books, literacy resources and programming to families and children at no cost

To advance education and promote health by communicating the importance of reading to children and its impact on healthy development

To relieve poverty and promote diversity, inclusion and social engagement by providing cultural, educational, and

inclusive family programs that engage and support newcomers to Canada and individuals living in high-needs

communities.