Every Little Blue Bookshelf is stocked with gently used or new books for children from birth to school age. Shelves are located across the Southwest Missouri & Southeast Kansas communities, in places where families with young children visit, and particularly in areas where families experiencing stressful situations or crisis might go. We encourage children to visit a Little Blue Bookshelf and choose a book to keep and share.
Research shows if a child is successful in kindergarten,
it is more likely they will be successful in third grade.
If they are successful in third grade and reading on the proficient level,
it is more likely they will graduate high school on time.
The Little Blue Bookshelf aims to give children easy access to age-appropriate books. Book ownership is important in fostering an interest in reading and a love for learning. Children feel pride in owning their own books and develop confidence in reading when books are easily within reach and can be read again and again. Each Little Blue Bookshelf book also includes tips for families on how to read with a child.
The project also helps involve community members in literacy through book donations and volunteer opportunities to keep books circulating within the community.
In August 2025, we hosted two Little Blue Bookshop events at Northpark Mall in Joplin to distribute more than 7,000 books and a pallet of school supplies to local children. Follow our Facebook page for information on future events like the Little Blue Bookshop!
Get Involved!
You can join this effort today by:
- Donating new or gently-used books
- Volunteering to clean, sort, and refill bookshelves across the community
- Sponsoring a shelf at a new location ($250)
- Making a donation to purchase new books
- Holding a book drive
Call United Way of Southwest Missouri and Southeast Kansas at 417-624-0153 to talk about how you can get connected to helping achieve literacy for all our local children.
Little Blue Bookshelf Locations in Southwest Missouri & Southeast Kansas:
- Access Family Care - 530 S. Maiden Lane, Joplin
- Boys & Girls Club - 317 Comingo Avenue, Joplin
- Catholic Charities - 403 E. 4th Street, Joplin
- Children's Center of SWMO - 1029 E. 7th Street, Joplin
- Community Clinic of Southwest Missouri - 701 S. Joplin Avenue, Joplin
- Crosslines Ministries - 320 School Avenue, Joplin
- Economic Security Corp - 302 S. Joplin Avenue, Joplin
- Freeman Pediatric Clinic - 3333 McIntosh Circle, Suite 1, Joplin
- Freeman Academic Medicine - 3202 McIntosh Circle, Joplin
- Jasper County Family Services Division - 601 Commercial, Joplin
- Joplin NALA Read - 123 S. Main Street, Joplin
- Joplin Police Department - 303 E. 3rd Street, Joplin
- Lafayette House - 1809 S. Conner Avenue, Joplin
- Ozark Center / Will's Place - 1800 W. 30th Street, Joplin
- Pediatric Associates of SWMO - 2531 E. 32nd Street, Joplin
- Ronald McDonald House - 3402 S. Jackson Avenue, Joplin
- WIC Office - 321 E. 4th Street, Joplin
- Freeman Neosho Physician Group - 336 S Jefferson, Neosho
- Carl Junction Police Department - 302 N. Main Street, Carl Junction
- CSS Early Learning Center - 1401 W. Austin, Webb City
- Franklin Early Childhood Center - 404 Tracy Street, Webb City
- Webb City CARES - 1020 N. Main, Webb City
- Children's Advocacy Center - 123 W. Adams Street, Pittsbug
- Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas - 3011 N. Michigan, Pittsburg
- Pittsburg Family YMCA - 1100 N. Miles, Pittsburg
- Pittsburg Police Department Juvenile Intake - 201 N. Pine Street, Pittsburg
- Safehouse Crisis Center - 409 N. Walnut Street, Pittsburg
- Salvation Army - 307 E. 5th Street, Pittsburg
- Wesley House - 411 E. 12th Street, Pittsburg