We are excited to share our May Nonprofit Spotlight, Bernie’s Book Bank (917 N Shore Drive Lake Bluff). We chatted with Emily Dillon, Content Marketing Manager, to learn all about this important organization!
Tell us about Bernie’s Book Bank!
Bernie’s Book Bank transforms children’s lives through book ownership by sourcing, processing, and distributing free high-quality books to children who need them most. Driven by a passionate collective of volunteers and partners, we supply children who need them with free, high-quality books to build in-home libraries of their very own.
When was your nonprofit founded, and by whom?
Founded by Brian Floriani in 2009.
What inspired the creation of your organization?
Brian Floriani was inspired by his father, Dr. Bernard P. Floriani, who, never without a book, read his way to a better life. Reading is the single most important skill a child needs to succeed in life. Yet, too many children lack books, especially books of their own in their home. At Bernie’s Book Bank, we’re here to change that.
What areas do you serve? Who do you serve in our community?
We serve in over 950 Title 1 schools and early childhood programs in the Chicago counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will. We also expanded to the Greater Milwaukee area, reaching local children attending 60 Title 1 schools and early childhood programs in the counties of Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Washington, and Waukesha. And in 2025, we reached 10 Title 1 elementary schools in the Sarasota and Manatee counties in the heart of the Suncoast, Florida. That’s a total of 315,000 children Bernie’s Book Bank serves annually in Title 1 schools, early childhood programs, WIC distribution partners, and community-based partner organizations.
What programs/services do you offer?
We offer a free book distribution program where we source, process and distribute 8 free, high-quality, age-appropriate books each year to children through Title 1 schools, early childhood programs, WIC distribution partners, and community-based partner organizations. We also offer volunteer opportunities for individuals, families, corporate groups, school groups, and community service groups.
How has your organization grown or evolved over the years?
In our first 12 months, we sourced, processed, and distributed 140,000 children’s books. In our second year, we expanded our operation and reach and distributed 350,000 free, high-quality children’s books. By the end of 2012, our third year, we had distributed 1 MILLION high-quality, age-appropriate books into the hands and homes of children in under-resourced communities. Today, we have hand-delivered over 31 million free, high-quality books. Our effective, scalable, and sustainable model allows us to source, process, and distribute eight books every year to children from birth to sixth grade so they can have a home library of their very own and always have a book within reach. Funded by generous donors and committed companies and fueled by a passionate team of partners and volunteers, we believe better futures begin with books.
Can you share a success story that represents your impact?
Over a five-year period, from 2018 to 2023, we embarked on a journey to build evidence about the impact of book ownership. Specifically, Bernie’s Book Bank participated in a five-year randomized controlled trial (RCT) designed to measure the impact of Bernie’s Book Bank providing free, high-quality books on students’ literacy achievement. In a school-level randomized controlled trial, generously funded by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation and conducted by Dr. Geoffrey Borman in partnership with Milwaukee Public Schools, the study randomly assigned sixty schools to either receive the Bernie’s Book Bank book distribution intervention (the treatment group) or to a waitlist control group that would not receive the books until the conclusion of the study. In the treatment schools, Bernie’s Book Bank would provide all kindergarten through sixth-grade students with an average of seven high-quality free books per year, or a total of 34 free books over a five-year period. The study findings? Students from Bernie’s Book Bank schools achieved statistically significant reading gains relative to their counterparts in control schools. Specifically, the study tracked students who were in grades 1 and 2, respectively, at the start of the study and who remained within the school district over a five-year period (2018-2023), through grades 5 and 6, respectively – and found that students in Bernie’s Book Bank schools achieved higher scores on the spring 2023 standardized state literacy assessment (the Wisconsin Forward Exam, the study’s primary outcome). The observed effect on literacy achievement would translate to approximately 25-32% of a school year in additional learning, relative to the controlled group.[1] For those students who attended Bernie’s Book Bank schools at the beginning of the study and remained in those schools through the five-year follow-up and therefore received multiple years of books, the impact on literacy achievement was even larger – the equivalent of approximately 52-65% of a typical school year’s growth. All at a cost of $16 per child per year. To our knowledge, Bernie’s Book Bank is the only active nonprofit organization to participate in an RCT directly evaluating the effectiveness of a comprehensive free book distribution program, and that has been found to produce positive, long-term effects on literacy achievement.[2] It’s simple really – we believe better futures begin with books, and we’re committed to building the evidence.
What is the biggest need you are addressing right now?
The term “book desert” was coined to describe communities where children have limited access to books. It’s estimated that around 32 million children in the United States lack access to books in their homes, schools, and communities. We believe increasing book ownership is a matter of equity.
What is the most rewarding part of this work?
The most rewarding part of Bernie’s Book Bank’s work is the moment when a child receives books they get to keep and call their own. For many of the children served, the books provided aren’t just extras—they’re often the first books in their home. That shift matters in a very real way: kids start to see themselves as readers, they build confidence, and they begin choosing stories that reflect their interests and imagination.
How can individuals/families help?
A $16 investment in Bernie’s Book Bank provides 8 books a year to a child. A $200 investment provides enough to support a child through the full Bernie’s Book Bank program, building a home library of 96 books. It’s a proven investment. Books aren’t optional. Literacy is non-negotiable. If you want to make a difference in children’s lives, now and in the future, there’s no better way than to help us get books into the homes and hands of children who need them most. You can also fundraise with us by attending one of our fundraising events, or fundraise on behalf of Bernie’s Book Bank in your community. Join a powerful network of local literacy champions by sponsoring one of our signature events. Donate your time by volunteering at our Processing Center in Lake Bluff. Or donate new or gently used children’s books at a drop-off location near you, or host a book drive in your community.
Any upcoming events we should be aware of?
Join fellow book lovers for an exclusive and inspiring afternoon with a celebrated author in support of Bernie’s Book Bank. The afternoon includes a captivating talk by the author, a delicious lunch, and an engaging audience Q&A, all in support of Bernie’s Book Bank. Past authors include New York Times bestselling authors Shelby Van Pelt, Lisa Barr, Mary Kubica, and more. Celebrate the love of literature and books while making a meaningful impact and sharing the gift of book ownership with local children.
Anything else you would like to share?
Book ownership and books in the home are the single biggest indicators of academic success — surpassing income, parents’ education, and all other factors. Yet, too many children have no books at all in their homes. The good news? At Bernie’s Book Bank, we’re laser-focused on solving this solvable problem — and through partnership and with your support, we will.