Livi's Library

We would like to hear from those of you who have volunteered
for Livi's Library. Please take a few moments to complete this brief survey.
This will help us with future planning and development of this project.

Livi’s Library is a book project designed to share gently used books with children who otherwise could not afford books of their own.This project is in memory of Mary Olivia Pettit, 9 year old daughter of Bryan and Lisa Pettit, of Lancaster, who died March 22, 2009 of viral myocarditis. Livi had a great passion for learning through books. Research suggests that the availability of books is strongly correlated with subsequent reading achievement. Unfortunately, children in poverty are least likely to possess high-interest, age-appropriate reading materials. Livi's Library is designed with the goals of helping children in poverty develop a love of reading, reducing summer reading loss and preparing them for success in life.

Through this project, we are working to make books readily available for children who do not otherwise have access. Volunteers are collecting children’s books and distributing them through free book fairs in high-needs, high-poverty schools. They are also building bookshelves and filling them with books in places high-needs families with children frequent.

Overarching Goal: To increase reading among children who don’t have access to books by providing opportunities for children to choose books of their own through free book fairs and strategically-placed bookshelves

What we have done:

The Charter Lancaster Group sent out two "Helpful Tips" emails to aid the volunteers as they prepare for upcoming book fairs and book case placement. To read these, please click here:

Tip Email #1
Tip Email #2

The Lowcountry Chapter launched its first book case at Pet Helpers in Charleston. They have lots of books cleaned and on the shelves, but always need more.

The Midlands Chapter hosted its first city-wide book fair at Harvest Hope on Saturday, December 1, 2012.

The Upstate Chapter hosted its first book fair at Duncan Chapel Elementary on December 4-5, 2012. Over 1,400 books were given away, and it was a huge success. The AT&T Pioneers, Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church, Michelin North America, Inc., ScanSource, Furman students and faculty, and students in the university’s Bridges to a Brighter Future program assisted in collecting books or volunteering time to assist with the event, which gave students two books each.

Two Men and a Truck donated 25 large boxes to the Midlands chapter. Thank you!

On May 31, 2012, over 40 volunteers from all over South Carolina gathered for a planning session and workshop in Columbia at SCETV to strategize and plan the next steps for the Livi’s Library effort. For more information, click here.

Many thanks to Two Men and a Truck of Greenville for donating 25 large boxes to the Livi’s Library SuperCapstone project! These boxes were painted by Bridges to a Brighter Future students and will be used for major book collections across the state.

On May 7, 2013 Livi’s Library held a book fair at Overbrook Child Development Center in Greenville. Approximately 200 books were distributed by volunteers to special-needs children, and 6th graders from LEAD Academy in Greenville also read to the children. To see photos of this event, click here.

What we have learned:

The value of partnering with local organizations to recruit volunteers and provide for sustainability
Finding the balance between ensuring program fidelity and rapid program expansion with multiple partners

2013 Goals:

Gather more books to distribute to high-needs children
Host more book fairs and place more bookshelves

How to get involved:

To inquire about creating a Livi’s Library in your community, complete a project application form here.
For detailed information on starting and maintaining a Livi's Library book case, view the Livi’s Library Project Toolkit.
Information to help you design and build your own Livi's Library bookcase: signage for your bookcase; dimensions and plan for building a bookcase, and a list of materials.
Volunteers are setting plans in motion for 3-4 book fairs state wide during the week of September 8, 2012, which is a statewide Literacy day. Help us collect books by starting a book drive at your school or place of work.
For more information about Livi’s Library, email livislibrary@yahoo.com

Get involved!

Join us!

Photo Galleries below: the first one is from a recent book fair in Lancaster, SC; the second includes thank you notes from the students attending the book fair; and the third is a gallery of Livi.

Photo Gallery: