According to the U.S. Department of Education, three out of four black boys in California are not reading at grade level. In an effort to reach the community where they are and meet the library’s goal of expanding literacy programs outside of the brick and mortar library space, bookcases were set up in local barbershops. In Black communities, barbershops hold a cultural significance; providing books in these spaces increases boys’ access to culturally relevant and age-appropriate books and time spent reading out-of-school.

Barbershop Books founder Alvin Irby hosted a 90-minute Early Literacy Training for barbers to learn how to speak with young boys about the importance reading and ways to encourage them to read. Each bookshelf is filled with award-winning books, curated with recommendations from young people, for children to enjoy while waiting to have their hair cut. A Library Liaison, who is a young man of color with lived experience, checks in with the barbers, issues library cards to youth and provides new books as needed.

Since November 2018, the Library Liaison has made 160 visits to the 10 Barbershops to check in with the barbers and issued 60 library cards to youth. At each barbershop location, the little libraries are being used by an average of 20 kids per location every week. A recent survey with the barbers also revealed that since the program started, more children have been reading in their barbershops, and the program has made a positive impact in the barbershop environment.