Reading is Fundamental

About Reading is Fundamental

In 2006, Book’em joined forces with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the largest children's literacy organization in the United States. Today, Book’em administers the RIF program in 14 Title I Metro Nashville elementary schools and is working to be able to serve more schools in the future. Each classroom is visited by a volunteer reader five times throughout the school year, during which the reader engages the students through interactive reading. At the end of each visit, students each pick their own book to keep and enjoy at home. Each child ends the school year with five new books in their home library, a relationship with a reading role model, and (we hope!) a re-energized love of books and reading.

Locally, the RIF program now serves over 7,000 children a year through a network of more than 250 reading role model volunteers, distributing 31,000+ books annually.

Volunteer for RIF

Thank you to everyone who volunteered in the 2024-2025 school year! Over 30,000 books and 1,000 hours were donated to students in our RIF schools. Interested in joining the RIF volunteer team for the 2025-2026 school year? Click below to fill out the registration form!

"RIF allows students to see that not only does their teacher feel that reading is important but the community does as well."

"This program is transformational for students and brings my students such joy!"

"Having someone besides their teacher read to them is critical in increasing reading motivation."

- Teachers Whose Class Participated in the RIF Book'em Program

RIF Schools Map

Join RIF

If you are a school that is interested in being added to our RIF waiting list or would like to learn more about the program, please email Caroline Lewis at [email protected].

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