The Rainbow Library Community Reads Project is an initiative that sends LGBTQ+ affirming K-12 text sets to schools and libraries—for free. Rainbow Library sets are in 4,600 schools, reaching an estimated 2 million young readers.

Over 1,200 schools and libraries are on our waitlist. Your donation will help us bring more LGBTQ+ affirming books and resources to youth across the country.

GLSEN is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible. You will be able to select which state(s) your donation is directed toward before finalizing your transaction.

Quest Diagnostics will MATCH any employee donations of $25 or more, up to $2,500! Once your donation is completed, simply submit your donation receipt here for the match to be processed.

Suggested Donations:

$12 – Purchases one book to be donated

$25 – Purchases one book in both English and Spanish to be donated

$55 – Purchases a complete expansion set (5 supplementary books sent on an annual basis)

$145 – Purchases a complete starter set (10-12 books)

$200 – Provides a school with a starter set in 2023 and an expansion sent in 2024.

About Us

The Rainbow Library is a GLSEN program that sends LGBTQ+ affirming text sets to schools across the country — for free.

Any full-time staff member at a K-12 school in a participating state or county is welcome to request a Rainbow Library. All types of K-12 schools are eligible: district, magnet, charter, and independent. Each school that applies will be eligible for one Rainbow Library text set, and sets are provided on a first-come, first served basis.

Founded 25 years ago, GLSEN is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe and affirming schools for LGBTQ students. GLSEN has volunteer-run chapters in 31 states.

Over 4,600 schools in 30 states participate in GLSEN’s Rainbow Library, reaching over 2.5 million students

  • Participating Schools
  • Planned for Spring 2023
Find out more about each participating State

Book Selection

How do you select Rainbow Library books?
Rainbow Library books are selected by the Rainbow Library Book Selection Committee, which is composed of representatives from GLSEN’s Educator Advisory Council, National Student Council, National Staff, and Chapter Network. The Committee chooses Rainbow Library books based on reviews from major journals, such as School Library Journal, Kirkus, and Booklist Reviews, feedback from hundreds of educators and school librarians who previously received Rainbow Library sets, and Committee Members’ own perspectives from having read the books themselves. The grade-range for each title is in line with the grade-range provided by School Library Journal (or if unavailable, reviews from other reputable journals). All Rainbow Library titles have won awards or have been featured on reputable lists, such as the American Library Association (ALA) Rainbow Book List. Two-thirds of our current books are written by queer authors of color and 40% were written by trans and nonbinary authors. Each set contains ten books aligned to one of four grade ranges: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, or 9-12. Every set contains one book that is either bilingual or entirely in Spanish.
I live in a state with laws banning LGBTQ+ affirming books from public schools (or a district with similar anti-LGBTQ policies). Are they still eligible for Rainbow Library books?
Yes! U.S. public school students have a constitutional right to access books that affirm BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people. We have sent hundreds of Rainbow Library sets to schools in states and districts with unconstitutional, discriminatory anti-LGBTQ book censorship policies, and have heard countless stories of the positive impacts these books have for students. A public school that denies its students access to a book because it contains LGBTQ+ affirming content violates that student’s constitutional rights, and puts itself at risk for federal investigations and civil rights lawsuits. Because federal constitutional protections supersede any local policies or state laws that undermine these rights, when laws conflict, it is the responsibility of school district staff to uphold students’ federal constitutional rights. To learn more, visit https://rainbowlibrary.org/censorship.