Bring Free Books Into the Places People Already Gather
Host a Stories for Everyone Reading Cart and help children, adults, families, employees, clients, and community members discover books without cost being a barrier.
Stories for Everyone provides and maintains the cart. Your organization provides the welcoming space that makes free book access possible.
Find the Details
Take a look at each dropdown to get all the details about hosting a Stories for Everyone reading cart!
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A Stories for Everyone Reading Cart is a free, community-supported book-sharing space placed inside a local business, organization, school, community space, workplace, or service location.
Visitors are welcome to:
Take a book to read and keep
Leave or donate a book when they are able
Browse without making a purchase or donation
Discover books in a convenient, welcoming location
Leaving a book is encouraged, but it is never required. Every book on the cart is free.
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Reading Carts can work well in indoor locations where people already wait, gather, work, learn, receive services, or spend time.
Potential hosts may include:
Coffee shops, cafés, and restaurants
Local shops and service businesses
Schools, childcare centers, and educational programs
Libraries and community centers
Counseling, healthcare, and social-service organizations
Apartment buildings and housing communities
Churches and faith communities
Workplaces and employee spaces
Other welcoming community locations
Not sure whether your space is a fit? Submit the interest form and tell us about it. There is no commitment required to ask.
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Hosting a Reading Cart allows your organization to:
Offer a free amenity to customers, clients, employees, families, or visitors
Make waiting and gathering spaces more welcoming
Give visitors something meaningful to enjoy while at your location
Support literacy, accessibility, reuse, and community well-being
Demonstrate a visible commitment to your local community
Participate in a mission-driven program without creating or managing it yourself
Be recognized as an official Reading Cart host partner as the program grows
Whenever possible, the cart may be stocked with books that fit your location and the people you serve.
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Stories for Everyone manages the Reading Cart program and provides:
The Reading Cart or an approved shelving setup
An initial supply of books
Program signage and QR-code materials
Book sorting and stocking decisions
Routine organization and restocking
Removal of damaged or unsuitable materials
Volunteer or Cart Steward coordination when applicable
Support when the cart is low, full, messy, damaged, or needs attention
Basic program and impact tracking
Maintenance frequency may vary based on how active the location is and the needs of the host site.
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Hosting is designed to remain simple and low effort. Host partners provide:
A safe, visible indoor location for the cart
Enough space for the agreed-upon cart or shelf
Permission for visitors to freely browse, take, and donate books
Permission to display approved Reading Cart signage
A contact person who can let us know when the cart needs attention
Notice before moving or removing the cart
Hosts are not expected to catalog books, track inventory, sort donations, recruit volunteers, or complete routine maintenance.
How It Works
Tell Us About Your Location
Complete the short interest form below. Submitting the form does not create a commitment or guarantee immediate placement.
We Review the Request
Stories for Everyone reviews the location, audience, available space, accessibility, timing, and current program capacity.
We Talk Through the Details
If the location may be a good fit, we will contact you to discuss placement, responsibilities, maintenance, timing, and any location-specific needs.
We Confirm the Partnership
Before placing a cart, both parties confirm the setup and expectations. A simple host agreement may be used to document the arrangement.
The Cart Is Delivered and Maintained
Stories for Everyone sets up the cart, supplies the initial books and signage, and continues supporting the location after launch.
Interested in Hosting a Reading Cart?
Tell us about your organization and the space you have available. The form is intended to begin a conversation—it is not a binding agreement.
After reviewing your submission, we will contact you to discuss whether the location may be a good fit and what the next steps could look like.
Your Questions, Answered
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The goal is to make hosting accessible and low effort. Standard host locations are not expected to purchase books or manage routine cart maintenance. Any location-specific costs or special arrangements would be discussed before a partnership is confirmed.
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No. Visitors may take a book even if they do not have one to leave. Every book is free, and leaving a book is always optional.
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Stories for Everyone manages routine organization, restocking, book decisions, damaged-book removal, signage, and general program support. Host locations simply let us know when the cart needs attention.
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The amount of space depends on the cart or shelving setup available. A small, safe, visible indoor area is usually sufficient. Photos or measurements may be requested during the review process.
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Yes. We cannot guarantee every title or category, but we will consider the ages, interests, languages, and needs of the people who use your location whenever inventory allows.
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Timing depends on cart availability, book inventory, maintenance capacity, location readiness, and program priorities. Submitting an interest form begins the review process but does not guarantee an immediate placement.
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Yes. We ask hosts to contact Stories for Everyone before moving or removing the cart so books, signage, and program materials can be handled appropriately.
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The host contact can notify Stories for Everyone. We will arrange support based on the issue and our current maintenance schedule.