Madison Reading Project Honored with 2025 Todd H. Bol Award for Outstanding Achievement

We’re beyond proud to share that Madison Reading Project has been selected as a 2025 winner of the Todd H. Bol Award for Outstanding Achievement, presented by the Little Free Library nonprofit organization!

This national award recognizes individuals and organizations that go above and beyond in building community, inspiring readers, and increasing book access, core values of Little Free Library and its late founder, Todd Bol. It’s a true honor to be recognized among this year’s awardees who are making a difference across the country.

“It is a privilege to recognize Madison Reading Project as one of this year’s winners,” said Little Free Library Executive Director Greig Metzger. “Their volunteer efforts exemplify the vision of Todd Bol, to engage communities and enrich lives through the power of shared books.”

At Madison Reading Project, literacy is at the heart of everything we do. In total, we steward 14 Little Free Libraries and support another 35, including one right outside our own Book Center. Each one is a small but mighty resource, connecting neighbors to books, stories, and each other.

In 2024 alone, we distributed over 12,000 books through our Little Free Library network across Dane County, books that found their way into the hands and hearts of readers of all ages.

Being recognized by Little Free Library, a nonprofit with a global network of over 175,000 book-sharing boxes, is especially meaningful. Todd Bol believed in the ripple effect of one small act, placing a box of free books in your yard. We’re grateful to be part of that ripple, helping literacy bloom in Madison and beyond.

This impact wouldn’t be possible without our volunteers, who generously give their time to help us install, stock, and maintain these libraries. Special shoutout to Melissa Hornung, our Community Access Coordinator, who leads this program with so much heart.

Thank you to our volunteers, supporters, and readers who keep these libraries full and our mission alive. And thank you to Little Free Library for this beautiful recognition. We’re honored, humbled, and motivated to keep turning pages and changing lives.

Here’s to more stories shared, more books given, and more magic made, one library at a time!