Some of our most disenfranchised and vulnerable communities live in book deserts, with little or no local access to books. This means no bookstores, no public libraries within reasonable distance, and little to no thrift stores that have used books. So I decided to help while supporting my favorite indie bookstore!

Hi, my name is Amanda Wagner, and I run Amanda's Mini Library Project in Sacramento, Ca.

My mission is to put diverse and inclusive books into Sacramento communities, using tiny free libraries. Everyone, no matter their economic background or walk of life should have access to books. I took my own money, bought donor books and gift cards then seeded them into other free tiny libraries around town. I also promoted where these donations were through an Instagram project, Amanda's Mini Library Project. I tried to do the best I could, all while supporting my local indie bookstore, which is very aligned with my project's goals. A Seat at the Table Books is dedicated to welcoming, celebrating, and uplifting everyone through the power of books, coffee, and community. They create space for anyone who feels like they don’t belong.

My love of reading found me in my late teens, I was sixteen and had never read a book for fun. I didn’t have the access or desire to read, but then I found that one book that changed everything. Since that moment I have come to believe we are all readers in search of the book that will change it all. I truly believe there are books out there that will spark a lifetime love of reading for someone if we can just get the right book into the hands of the person who needs it most. What I want to accomplish with this project is getting those books into communities and into the hands of readers. I am hoping to help people of all ages find their books and a passion for reading.

What started me on this mission was finding a bookstore I loved. The instant I entered this place it felt like home, but despite how much the space immediately meant to me and others, they were struggling–and I wanted to help. So, for the last year, I have been supporting my favorite independent bookstore, A Seat at the Table Books in Elk Grove, CA. Each month, I purchase two twenty-five dollar gift cards and an assortment of brand new books, switching themes each month and trying to include as many genres and experiences as I can. It’s easy to choose a diverse selection because the bookstore intentionally curates their selection to represent everyone in our community. I take those books, along with the gift cards and handwritten notes, and I distribute them through tiny free libraries located throughout the Sacramento and Elk Grove areas.

I do this to not only put new books into the community, but also to put more diverse and inclusive books into our communities. I include the gift cards to get people in the door of a place I needed as a teenager, a place I really want to be around for the children in my life to grow up in and for the adults in my life to feel at home in for generations to come.

While all this was going on I discovered that we have book deserts throughout the Sacramento area. Whole areas of our city have no local access to books, and I want to change that. I even found out that the neighborhood I grew up in was one of these areas. Finding out kids, teens, and adults where I grew up lived in a book desert broke my heart, so I came up with a plan to help.

Which brings me to this fundraiser: what if we put in a new tiny free library with books for all ages in a space with lots of easy, local access? I knew I didn't have the money to do this all on my own, but thankfully I have partnered with the owner of A Seat at the Table Books, Emily, and her incredible staff to help bring this project to fruition. Together, they are sourcing some of the best books I could find for the community and give wonderful and insightful recommendations. They even have a wish list for the Tiny Library so you can choose a specific book to donate. You can also donate here towards the actual structure that will be placed in Roy Neilson Park located on Center Parkway in South Sacramento. We will keep the wish list open once it’s built so people can continue to contribute to the mini library project and the vision of getting the right book into each person’s hands.

Eventually, I would love to work with A Seat at the Table Books and the book lovers of Sacramento to put these libraries all over Sacramento for all age ranges so we can help end the book deserts in our communities.

I can create the plan and build the wish list, but I can't fund this alone. I would love for us all to bring this together and build a love of reading within our communities. Any extra funds raised will be used to fund additional tiny libraries and to purchase books for the Amanda’s Mini Library Project, book drives for school districts, or local community events. No matter what, I promise to keep showing up for our community and doing my part. Right now, I need your help putting something out there that can only bring good to our community.

I hope you all will join me for this wonderful journey. If you can't donate, I hope you will share this or follow our journey on instagram. If you click here it will take you to my instagram for Amanda's Mini Library Project .

Our book wish list is located here

Mini Library Project Book Wishlist

Statement from our bookstore partnership: We are honored to be part of this incredible project to advance our mission to give everyone a seat at the table, and to do so well outside of the store’s walls. Books have changed all of our lives for the better. They’ve made us more inclusive, more accepting of ourselves and others, and happier. They’ve helped us become better allies and advocates. And they’ve given us a respite from this difficult world when we need a safe escape. Thank you for supporting this project!