Tribal Nations
Our partner tribal nations draw from the experience of Reading Nation Waterfall, a project focused on increasing book access and libraries to Native American children from across the country. The project uses the Little Free Library model to install book boxes at schools, early education centers and public or tribal libraries. With the increase to book access, the project has created a sustainable model of distributing books and improving literacy rates among Native American children.
Reading Nation Waterfall: Yurok Nation in California
Reading Nation Waterfall is a literacy initiative funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to expand book access for Native American children. Current efforts focus on partner Tribal communities sustaining the Book Ecosystem Model through book fairs, buddy reading, and reading log events. Positive family engagement has been reported, while expansion discussions are underway with additional North Coast Tribal communities, building on continued leadership from the Yurok Tribe.
Reading Nation Waterfall: Zuni Pueblo, Navaho, and Hopi Nations in New Mexico
The New Mexico Reading Nation Waterfall project is establishing and expanding the Book Ecosystem model with the Zuni Pueblo and expanding into the Navajo and Hopi Nations to address the high need for book access in tribal regions. Currently, there are Little Free Libraries active at Zuni Head Start and the local public library, with 365 books recently distributed and new shipments in progress.
Reading Nation Waterfall: United Keetoowah Band of Oklahoma
Focused on building a united tribal literacy alliance and expanding early literacy opportunities across Oklahoma's 48 tribes by installing Little Free Library boxes using the "three legged stool" book ecosystem model. Currently 12 boxes are active, with plans to leverage tribal resources and community partnerships for national replication.
Our Outcomes
100% partner tribes reported an increase in library usage.
As of 2026, over 55,000 books have been disseminated through Little Free Libraries and free book distributions.
12,079 books were recorded in student reading logs in the 2023-2024 school year.
What Our Partners Are Saying
[We would like to see the program] replicated in other communities AND continued in the communities that RNW is already established. Every year we have children growing and developing their reading behaviors. Now that there is a practice and family habits in place, it’s more important than ever to continue providing access and working through developed partnerships.
Our K through 5 went from 28 proficiency last year to 44…their first grade reading scores were the highest in the district.
Members of the community have engaged more with libraries as a result of the grant, there has been increased presence and programming for Native American authors. That is the biggest barrier to library use, if we don’t feel like we belong there they won’t go, we’ve made efforts to increase representation and make the library a welcoming space.
Learn more
If you would like to learn more about Reading Nation Waterfall, please visit myreadingnation.com
We Need Your Support
To advance this proven model, we need support to fund the team that makes this work possible.​
Your support helps us continue this vital work for the children who need it most. All donor-designated gifts are used solely to advance global book ecosystem work.
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For more information, contact Program Director, Dr. Anthony Chow at a.chow@sjsu.edu.