Carnegie Center: Free Books at the Arnow Reading Room

What is this?

Through the Arnow Reading Room, we distribute thousands of free books each year to children, teens, and families, while also helping stock our outdoor Little Free Library. Donated books are carefully sorted and organized by age group, genre, and theme, making it easy for visitors to find books that match their interests. We first participated in Cultural Pass in summer 2024 with “Carnegie Center: Free Books at the Arnow Reading Room.” As part of this effort, staff created a dedicated display of high-quality children’s and teen books and provided clear signage for participating families. In summer 2025, we distributed 80 free books to youth across eight Lexington zip codes. We propose to continue offering our Culture Pass program in summer 2026, to align with our usual hours of operation: Monday – Thursday, 10am – 7:30pm. Cultural Pass participants may visit during our open hours to select a free, age-appropriate book from a curated display. We will continue to track demographics and th