The Open Books, Open Doors Act authorizes $100 million annually from 2026 through 2031 to expand children's access to books and reading materials in underserved areas, known as "book deserts," where children have limited library access or reading resources. The bill defines eligible programs as evidence-based literacy initiatives offered by schools, libraries, and nonprofits with prior experience in literacy promotion, and includes diverse materials such as multilingual texts, digital content, and accessible formats. A key provision explicitly prohibits the Secretary of Education from censoring or influencing book selections based on political viewpoints, preserving local control over program content. The bill also allows the Secretary to request additional funding if demand for literacy services exceeds the base appropriation, ensuring the program can scale to meet needs.
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