Madison Reading Project to Launch Annual Book Drive

The sixth annual Community Book Drive will run from November 10 to December 10, 2026, to provide books to local children.

Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Philanthropy

Bold vector editorial illustration of a wooden crate overflowing with colorful children's books, representing the community book drive.
The Madison Reading Project is collecting 4,000 new books during its sixth annual Community Book Drive in Dane County through December 10. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Madison Reading Project is launching its sixth annual Community Book Drive on November 10, 2026. The organization aims to acquire 4,000 new books and distribute more than 10,000 to children across the area.

Why it matters

The initiative seeks to support child development by providing local children with new books. The project relies on community support to help sustain its literacy programming through the upcoming year.

The organization has a fundraising goal of $100,000 and aims to acquire 4,000 new books to reach a distribution target of 10,000 units. This marks the sixth consecutive year the project has held the drive.

The players

Madison Reading Project

This local organization provides literacy resources and books to children to encourage educational development.

Empty Stocking Club

This organization partners with local groups to provide assistance and resources to families during the holiday season.

Madison School and Community Recreation

This agency coordinates educational and recreational services for students and residents within the city.

The details

Donors can contribute to the drive by purchasing books from online wishlists or by placing new items at Book Wish Trees stationed throughout Dane County. The project partners with the Empty Stocking Club, Madison School and Community Recreation, and local libraries to manage the collection and distribution process.

Timeline

  1. The Community Book Drive begins on November 10, 2026.

  2. The drive is scheduled to conclude on December 10, 2026.

  3. Literacy programming supported by these donations will occur throughout 2027.

Market Landscape

This initiative follows the organization's successful distribution of 100,000 books over the past two years. The ongoing campaign solidifies its position as a central hub for childhood literacy support in the region.

Residents can directly impact local child literacy by purchasing books from wishlists or visiting collection sites. These contributions ensure the organization can maintain its planned distribution levels for the upcoming year.

The takeaway

Community-led book drives are an essential component of local literacy programming. Participants should check the organization's website to identify the most needed book titles for the current campaign.

What happens next

The book drive is scheduled to launch on November 10, 2026, and will remain open for contributions until December 10, 2026.

Further reading

For more information on local initiatives, visit Philanthropy.

More information

Learn how to participate in the community book drive involvement on the official website.

Live Poll

Do you prioritize supporting local non-profit literacy drives to help children in your community?