Open Books

Open Books was founded in 2006 by Stacy Ratner, the organizations' executive director. Ratner attended Brandeis University and Boston College Law School, and later, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.[6] Open Books began in Ratner's basement in the South Loop, where she and Becca Keaty collected and organized donated books. After three months, they acquired 50,000 donated books.[3][7] In 2009, Rather opened a storefront in River North. The store held 50,000 books, 10,000 of them being children books.[3] In 2012, 60-80 Chicago Public Schools participated in Open Books programs. As of 2012, approximately 75 percent of Open Books $1.2 million budget comes from bookstore and online sales.[3] In 2014, Open Books opened their Pilsen store location.[8] The next year, Open Books opened another bookstore location in the West Loop.[9]

The founders of Open Books learned that over 53% of Chicago adult resident have deficient literacy skills. Ratner, Keaty, and Walter, and additional volunteers then began to promote literacy in the city of Chicago.[10][11] Nell Klugman, volunteer coordinator for Open Books, confirms that Open Books actions focus on creating access to books and prioritizing time for reading.[10]

On Feb. 14, March 14, and Nov, 14 in 2014, Open Books participated in The Chicago Arts Districts' "2nd Friday Gallery Night" event. The event is a monthly reception at different art studios and galleries in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood.[12][13] In July 2014, Open Books participated in Chicago’s first Independent Bookstore Day, where they offered free bags of books to attendees who arrived first.[14] In December 2014, Open Books donated 500 children's books to the CTA annual Holiday train where they were given out at the Red, Purple , and Yellow line stops.[15] In 2016, Open Books had its first Garage Sale event. The event took place on Saturday, April 30 at 10 a.m. until May 1 at 4:00 p.m at Open Books' Pilsen location.[16] On April 29, 2017 Open Books held its second Garage Sale event at their Pilsen location.[17][18] On March 27, 2018, Goose Island Brewhouse selected Open Books for their Charity of the Month program. On the last Tuesday of the month in 2018, Goose Island Brewery selects a local charity, and then donates a portion of their dinner proceeds for that night to the selected charity.[19] Open Books Pilsen will be holding their third Garage Sale event on April 28–29, 2018.[20]