From Shelf to Smile - Book Distribution Project

Quarterly Impact Report: May - July 2026

Alif Laila Book Bus Society

A book can travel much further than the hands that first open it. Over the past quarter, Alif Laila Book Bus Society continued taking books into schools, libraries, community learning spaces and mobile library programmes across Pakistan, strengthening collections and bringing stories, knowledge and new possibilities to children who may otherwise have limited access to quality reading material.

With the generous support of Hoopoe Books, Big Bad Books and the well-known Lahore American School (LAS), Alif Laila Book Bus Society distributed books to educational institutions and community libraries across Quetta, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Ghotki, Sukkur, Jamshoro and Umer Kot. The effort reflects a simple but important idea at the heart of the organisation's work: when children have books within reach, reading can become part of everyday life rather than something confined to the classroom.

Among the quarter's distributions were two complete book sets for Iqra Babul Ilam Middle School in Quetta, along with sets for the Army Library in Rawalpindi, the National Commission for Human Development (NCHD), Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training, in Islamabad, and The School of Nation in Ghotki.

Libraries received significant additions to their collections as well. Hamara Kutab Khana Sukkur received 14 book sets, while its Jamshoro library received seven, giving children in these communities access to a wider selection of stories, subjects and ideas. Books were also donated to Khaleeq Memorial Library in Umer Kot and Door of Awareness School, further extending the programme's reach.

But the quarter's story is bigger than these individual distributions. Through its wider book distribution work, Alif Laila Book Bus Society is placing books not only in permanent libraries and schools but also on the move - reaching children through Camel Libraries, Rickshaw Libraries, the Book Bike, Storyteller Units and Boat Libraries, as well as Hamara Kutab Khana community libraries.

The impact is particularly important in communities where a library may not be easily accessible. Mobile libraries bring books directly to children, creating opportunities to read, explore and learn in places where educational resources can be scarce. During outreach visits to Sindh and Balochistan, 100 sets of books were distributed among children in village communities, helping introduce reading materials directly into underserved areas.

Across its wider distribution network, Alif Laila Book Bus Society reports that 2,043 books were distributed across Pakistan during the period covered by this report. The books have reached a diverse network of organisations and programmes, including Teach For Pakistan, which received 10 sets; Communal Hub, 30 sets; SOS Children's Village, 15 sets; and Children's Hospital, 10 sets. Other recipients included the Early Years Centre at Pace, Bamboo School (Hamara Apna School), Roshni Homes, an orphanage in Mansehra and the Boat Library in Rahim Yar Khan.

These numbers represent more than additions to shelves. Every new book gives a child the opportunity to encounter a new character, learn about a different place, ask a new question or simply discover the pleasure of reading for its own sake. For schools and community organisations, stronger collections also mean more opportunities to build reading into children's daily experiences.

Books Over Borders

Under Alif Laila Book Bus Society’s Books Over Borders initiative, it continues to take its book distribution and donation mission further by making quality children's books available across a network that extends from schools and libraries to mobile and community-based programmes.

The initiative supports Camel Libraries, Hamara Kutab Khana libraries, Rickshaw Libraries, the Book Bike, Storyteller Units and Boat Libraries, ensuring that books can reach children in both established learning spaces and more remote communities.

During the period covered, distributions included two sets each for Camel Libraries; Hamara Kutab Khana libraries in Sukkur, Buner, Suldhera and Burewala; and the Rickshaw Libraries, Book Bike and Storyteller Units. The Boat Library in Rahim Yar Khan received two sets, as did Bamboo School, while Roshni Homes, the Early Years Centre at Pace and the Mansehra orphanage each received one set (as mentioned above, in this report).

The initiative also supports larger-scale institutional outreach, with 10 sets going to Teach For Pakistan, 30 to Communal Hub, 15 to SOS Children's Village and 10 to Children's Hospital.

That being stated, Books Over Borders is continuing to grow! Five additional children's organisations and orphanages are currently being screened and assessed for inclusion in the initiative. Once the process is complete, further book sets will be distributed to expand access for children who are underserved by existing reading resources. Together, these efforts demonstrate the breadth of Alif Laila Book Bus Society’s approach: books can travel by bus, camel, rickshaw, boat, bike or simply from one child's hands to another. What matters is that they reach the children who need them.

For Alif Laila Book Bus Society, every distribution is part of a larger effort to build a culture in which children have the freedom to read widely, follow their curiosity and discover learning beyond the boundaries of the classroom. Through continued partnerships, donations and initiatives such as; My Book My Friend and Books Over Borders, Alif Laila Book Bus Society is helping put that possibility within reach of more children across Pakistan.