MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | Free Book Buggie Continues Statewide Literacy Mission with July Tour Bringing Thousands of Free Books to Minnesota Children

MINNEAPOLIS, MN (July 7, 2026)

Long before a child masters multiplication or writes their first research paper, educators say one of the strongest indicators of future academic success may already be sitting on a shelf at home: a book.

Across Minnesota, one nonprofit is working to ensure that shelf is no longer empty.

This month, The Free Book Buggie, a Twin Cities-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, will once again take its mobile library on the road, making stops in Robbinsdale, St. Paul, Duluth, Centerville, and Burnsville to place free books directly into the hands of children and teenagers.

The organization's mission is simple but ambitious: eliminate barriers to book ownership by bringing books to families instead of waiting for families to come to them.

Operating out of a repurposed shuttle bus, The Free Book Buggie travels to schools, neighborhood parks, housing communities, festivals, and community events across Minnesota, allowing children from birth through age 18 to choose books they can take home and keep—free of charge. The nonprofit focuses particularly on serving under-resourced communities where access to books outside the classroom can be limited.

Unlike traditional book giveaways, the experience is intentionally designed to give children ownership over their reading journey. Rather than receiving a preselected title, young visitors browse the shelves themselves, selecting books that match their interests and reading levels while beginning—or expanding—their own home libraries.

That mission reflects decades of literacy research showing that access to books at home is closely associated with stronger reading development, improved academic performance, and greater educational opportunity. Children who read voluntarily during the summer are also less likely to experience the "summer slide," the seasonal learning loss that disproportionately affects students without ready access to reading materials.

July Community Schedule

Families can visit The Free Book Buggie during the following public events throughout July:

Thursday, July 9

Citizens Bank Ice Cream Social

• Time: 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
• Location: Citizens Bank, Robbinsdale

St. Paul Police Department Safe Summer Nights

• Time: 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
• Location: Jimmy Lee Recreation Center, St. Paul

Friday, July 10

Arrowhead Head Start

• Time: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Location: 4991 Miller Trunk Highway, Duluth

Saturday, July 18

Centerville Lions Summer Fest

• Time: Noon – 2:00 p.m.
• Location: Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park, Centerville

International Festival of Burnsville

• Time: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Location: Nicollet Commons Park, Burnsville.

The July schedule stretches from the Twin Cities into northeastern Minnesota, illustrating the organization's expanding partnerships with municipalities, schools, businesses, public safety agencies, and community festivals.

Its appearance at the St. Paul Police Department's Safe Summer Nights initiative reflects a growing recognition that literacy, youth engagement, and public safety are interconnected investments in stronger communities. Likewise, stops at neighborhood festivals and family events allow children to discover books in familiar, welcoming environments where reading becomes part of everyday community life.

The nonprofit also continues to rely heavily on community support to sustain its work.

How Residents Can Help

The Free Book Buggie accepts donations of new and gently used children's books covering reading levels from birth through age 18. According to the organization, its greatest need is for multicultural and multilingual books, particularly those written in Spanish, Somali, and Hmong, helping ensure that children can see both themselves and their cultures reflected in the stories they read.

Books may be donated during community events, at the organization's regular Saturday book-sorting sessions at Burnsville High School, or through permanent collection sites located at participating Old National Bank branches in Blaine, Eden Prairie, West St. Paul, and Woodbury.

Volunteers remain central to the organization's operations. Opportunities include sorting donated books, staffing community distribution events, and serving as drivers to help the Book Buggie reach additional neighborhoods. Organization leaders say expanding their volunteer base would allow them to attend more events simultaneously and extend their reach to even more children across Minnesota.

Since its founding, The Free Book Buggie has grown from a single mobile literacy initiative into one of Minnesota's most visible community-based book distribution programs. The organization reports that it has distributed hundreds of thousands of books, partnered with more than 300 organizations, and served dozens of Minnesota communities, all while pursuing its guiding mission of "Giving Books. Cultivating Minds."

As the Book Buggie rolls into communities this July, its cargo is measured in more than pages and paper. Each stop represents an opportunity for a child to leave with something many take for granted: a book to call their own—and with it, another invitation to imagine, learn, and dream.

MinneapoliMedia | Community. Culture. Civic Life.