Lets Read Today
{{Short description|Non-profit organization founded in the United States}}
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{{orphan|date=June 2025}}
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{{Infobox organization
| name =
Lets Read Today
| image =
| formation = {{start date and age|2023}}
| type = 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
| purpose = Youth Literacy
| leader_name = Sia Malhotra{{Cite web |title=National Leadership |url=https://letsreadtoday.com/about |access-date=2023-01-05 |website=Lets Read Today}}
| leader_title = Founder
| headquarters = New Jersey, U.S.
| website = {{URL|letsreadtoday.com}}
}}
Let's Read Today is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Sia Malhotra, a youth literacy advocate from Livingston, New Jersey. The organization aims to make reading and books accessible to everyone by providing a wide range of books at free libraries, particularly in public spaces like airports.{{cite web |url=https://letsreadtoday.com/|title= Lets Read Today |website= Lets Read Today|date=2024-02-19 |access-date=2025-05-01}}
History
The inspiration for Let's Read Today came in the summer of 2021 when Sia Malhotra, then around eight years old, encountered a free children's library at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport during a family vacation to Alaska. Noting the absence of similar facilities at her home airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, she envisioned creating a free library there to encourage reading among young travelers.
Over the next three years, Malhotra collaborated with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to bring her idea to fruition. She also partnered with a local Home Depot in East Hanover, NJ to construct a bookshelf that met airport safety standards.{{cite web |url=https://abc7ny.com/newark-airport-children-library-sia-malhotra-books/14446132/ |title=Newark Airport Adds Children's Library Thanks to 5th Grader |website=ABC7NY |date=2024-02-19 |access-date=2025-05-01}}
The first Children's Lending Library opened in Terminal A of Newark Liberty International Airport in February 2024. It features a collection of pre-teen books available for travelers to borrow and return. A second library was launched in Terminal C in April 2025, expanding the program's reach within the airport.{{cite web |url=https://njurbannews.com/2025/04/28/nj-sixth-grader-opens-childrens-library-at-newark-airport/|title=NJ Sixth Grader Opens Children's Library At Newark Airport |website=njurbannews |date=2025-04-28 |access-date=2025-05-01}}{{cite web |url=https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/transportation/2024/02/19/nj-5th-grader-lending-library-newark-airport-terminal-a/72628485007/|title=Persistent NJ fifth grader adds new feature at Newark Airport: children's lending library |website=northjersey |date=2024-02-19 |access-date=2025-05-01}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.com/news/2024/02/nj-5th-grader-just-built-a-little-library-at-newark-airport.html|title=N.J. 5th grader just built a little library at Newark airport |website= nj|date=2024-02-19 |access-date=2025-05-01}}
Mission and activities
Let's Read Today's mission is to make reading and books accessible to everyone by providing a wide range of book collections at free libraries. The organization collects donated books to stock these libraries and has facilitated the establishment of additional libraries internationally, including one in India. As of April 2025, Let's Read Today has received over 12,000 book donations from more than 650 donors.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.letsreadtoday.com}}
Category:Non-profit organization stubs
Category:Organizations promoting literacy in the United States