Our impact

Books help people build a more equal future, so we’re committed to sharing the power of books.

Supporting the SDGs

The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a blueprint for a better, fairer future – and equal access to information is right at the heart of almost all of them. By sharing the power of books worldwide, we can help turn these goals into a reality. Our Theory of Change outlines how we create access to books around the world, and our Impact Report elaborates on how we help readers build a more positive future.

We have the greatest impact on three SDGs:

Two boys reading a donated book in Northern Ghana

SDG 4: Quality education

Books transform learning. They help teachers teach and bring lessons to life. That’s why we work with our partners to create and support school libraries. Since 2017, we’ve established 1,554 new school libraries.

Read more about how we enrich education

We also train teachers and librarians to feel more confident running libraries so that they can use books to enrich their classroom lessons and fire children’s imaginations. We’ve trained 3,969 teachers and librarians since 2017.

How we support libraries

By helping to improve education, we also help people to break the cycle of poverty – that’s SDG 1 – and reduce inequality – SDG 10.

Midwife Fikanayo reading in her medical library

SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing

In many communities where we work, there are not enough doctors, nurses and healthcare workers, and those who are practising struggle to access up-to-date information.

Every year, we provide tens of thousands of specialist medical books, so students and experienced medics can build their skills and provide the highest level of care.

Since 2016, we’ve provided medical books worldwide

How we provide health information

A kenyan school director introduces a girl to reading

SDG 5: Gender equality

Reading books by and about female role models can help girls see themselves and their world in a whole new light. It can break down stereotypes and open up possibilities.

So, as well as providing carefully selected books to encourage and inspire girls, we include gender issues in our training for partners and we actively seek out partners who focus on gender issues.

We are especially conscious of the needs of women who have been displaced or who live with conflict.