Changing children’s lives and futures — through books and home libraries!
The news is in! A new 5-year study published in 2026 shows that books in home libraries make a HUGE difference to reading success. And we at RIF NOVA have been providing books to children to build home libraries for over 50 years! As an all-volunteer organization, we need YOUR help to continue our work. Together, let’s make a difference by providing books to kids who need them the most!
All of our programs focus on promoting literacy by getting books into the hands and homes of deserving children!
Every child at a RIF NOVA school or site chooses at least one new book each year during special celebrations that make reading interesting and fun!
Each child completes a hands-on STEAM activity and chooses a book that focuses on science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math.
New and gently-used books collected by area donors are regifted to children at the schools we serve and to nonprofits that request books.
This program brings authors and illustrators to RIF NOVA participating schools. Each child takes home an autographed book to keep!
Every child at a RIF NOVA school or site chooses at least one new book each year during special celebrations that make reading interesting and fun!
Each child completes a hands-on STEAM activity and chooses a book that focuses on science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math.
New and gently-used books collected by area donors are regifted to children at the schools we serve and to nonprofits that request books.
This program brings authors and illustrators to RIF NOVA participating schools. Each child takes home an autographed book to keep!
Every child at a RIF NOVA school or site chooses at least one new book each year during special celebrations that make reading interesting and fun!
Each child completes a hands-on STEAM activity and chooses a book that focuses on science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math.
New and gently-used books collected by area donors are regifted to children at the schools we serve and to nonprofits that request books.
This program brings authors and illustrators to RIF NOVA participating schools. Each child takes home an autographed book to keep!
Through our Books for Keeps, STEAM It Up!, and Authors in Our Schools programs, RIF NOVA board members and other volunteers work together with school liaisons to distribute free books to over 20,000 children who attend schools and early childhood education programs in the City of Alexandria and in Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William counties. Thousands more books are distributed through our Donated Books program.
Our goal is to provide as many books as we can so children have access to books and can build their own home libraries — a key metric for reading success.
How can you help? Three ways: Give funds! Give books! Give time! Please help us launch the next generation of readers and make a difference in our own local community!
Our goal is to provide at least one new book each for 20,000 children each year -- and you can help!
We're always hard at work in our local Virginia communities through book distributions in schools and at community events! Find out more!
Hena Khan shared stories of her childhood with students at Marumsco Hills Elementary -- including her story -- and book -- about wanting to be the world's hula hooping champ!
What could be better in the hot summer than a popsicle provided by Carlin Springs Elementary and a book to take home to keep from the RIF NOVA Donated Books program!
A volunteer family joined in to build a shelf for books from the Donated Books program. The books are set up in an Alexandria laundromat so families can read while doing the wash!
Help put books in the hands of deserving children in our community.
