About Book Oasis
Book Oasis is a Houston area based nonprofit organization that is passionate about providing free access to books in underserved communities.
Our Purpose
Creating a world where every child has access to books
A Houston with no book deserts and equal access to books for all people regardless of socio-economic status.
We improve education and expand opportunity by connecting Houston students with the books, technology, and STEM resources they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
Our Co-Founders
Founder & President
Lucas founded Book Oasis and leads the organization, coordinating our mission, programs, and community impact.
Vice President
Marcelo leads the STEM initiative and supports partnerships, outreach, and educational programming for students.
STEM Programs Secretary
Aaron leads our STEM book collection and helps identify the educational resources Houston students need most.
Partnerships Officer
Valentina supports partnerships, outside initiatives, and event coordination that expand our reach.
Community Engagement Secretary
Lucila builds meaningful community connections and helps shape book oases around the hopes and stories of each neighborhood.
Communications Secretary
Nico identifies communities that need books and helps coordinate outreach, town halls, and events.
Education Programs Officer
Santiago works alongside our STEM team to understand community needs and connect students with books that support learning.
Words That Inspire Us
Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.
Reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible.
Understanding Book Deserts
What are book deserts?
A book desert is an area where books are scarce. Lack of access to books at home–especially for families with young children–is a significant contributor to persistent educational inequalities.
According to the US Department of Education, up to 61 percent of low-income families do not have any books for their kids at home. Forty-five percent of US children live in neighborhoods that lack public libraries and stores that sell books, or in homes where books are an unaffordable luxury.
Why is Eliminating Book Deserts Important?
Book deserts reflect structural inequalities in access to books. The uneven availability of books adversely affects the reading development of children in communities with limited book access.
Eliminating book deserts is a key step to having more equality across all of America. By enabling kids who grow up in low-income neighborhoods to have equal access to books and literacy opportunities, we are giving these children the resources necessary to lead a full life and to be free from the shackles of poverty.
What is a "book oasis"?
An oasis is a spot or area in a desert- an area with very little rain yearly- that is fertile and has access to water. Similarly, a "book oasis" provides a free and abundant access to books for community members that live in areas with limited access to books. Book oases give relief to communities living in book deserts by encouraging learning, reading, and self-improvement.