Barbershop Books, Inc.
Non-profit OrganizationsNew York, United States11-50 Employees
Barbershop Books, Inc. is a national nonprofit organization based in New York City that originated in Harlem. It seeks to inspire Black boys and other vulnerable children to read for pleasure through child-centered, culturally responsive programs that operate within community settings, including barbershops. The organization expanded its offerings with the Barbershop Books E-Library, launched in 2022, which provides a collection of e-books donated by independent authors of color. Recent collaborations illustrate its approach to scaling impact: in 2024 it partnered with The Lean Lab to pilot Reading So Lit in select schools for the 2024–2025 school year. Earlier in 2024, Barbershop Books collaborated with George Mason University alongside Micron Technology and LEAP to host a joint event, and it has also worked with the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District and the National Football League to create child-friendly reading spaces in local barbershops.