Barbershop Books - Barbers helping the community once again!

We have shared many stories about how barbers provide more than just haircuts. As respected members of the community, barbers have incredible power to help others and to positively impact their world. Barbershop Books program is a perfect example of the wonderful work they do.

Reading problems

The United States Department of Education claims that more than 85% of black 4th-grade boys are not fluent in reading. That can have a high impact on their lives, as basic reading skills are integral to most jobs. Two of the largest factors that contribute to low reading among boys include limited access to books and few culturally competent educators. Other factors might include the of lack of black men in early reading experiences and the schools' unresponsiveness to black boys' individual learning styles.

Barbershop Books

This community-based program created in Harlem aims at creating child-friendly reading spaces in barbershops all over the USA. Founders of Barbershop Books noticed the cultural significance of barbershops in black communities and decided to improve young men's access to good books - highlighting those that are culturally relevant and age appropriate. 

This encourages boys to read after school and to identify themselves as readers. Putting books in male-centered space, such as barbershop also helps adults involved in children's early reading experiences.

Providing access to materials

The goal of Barbershop Books is to bring the joy of reading to children. They work year round to provide barbershops nationwide with permanent reading spaces filled with books children love. These reading spaces transform reading from a source of frustration to a fun outlet for kids. Thanks to the program, young boys can find books with positive messages geared towards them and are more willing to spend free time reading books for fun.

Barbershops as cultural centers

The local barbershop is a cultural center for many communities. Such cultural centers not only preserve a community's culture and history, but help shape the future of the culture. As children learn by example, such places are central in forming their identities. By bringing reading into a safe cultural space,  Barbershop Books promotes reading in the community as a whole. Started early enough, this can not only help children connect with reading material, it also helps form bonds between children and adult role models who read to them.

Educational reform (identifying with books)

Barbershop Books is not a tutoring program - it is redefining how we promote literacy to students who are often failed by the standard education system. Often, the reading requirements incorporated in standard US curriculum ignores the voices and histories of minorities. How can children connect with reading if they never see themselves in the material? 

To help boys identify as readers, it is essential that they find characters/topics they can identify with.  That is why Barbershop Books provides shops with literature that highlight multicultural stories and experiences. Here is where you can help. If you know any book, make sure to contact them!

Encouragement is the key to reading

Barbers have the power to be local heroes as literacy advocates. Barbers who take part in the program help explain to parents the importance reading during the early stages of life. They also encourage kids to read by example. After all, what better argument for reading is there than having the barber you look up to tell you how cool it is? 

With a little effort, such barbershops can make a huge difference. Many boys visit a barbershop once or twice per month. In turn, the U.S. Department of Education found that students who to read for fun at least once or twice a month have significantly higher learning scores than students who never or rarely read for pleasure.  See the correlation? 

Bestseller Neil Gaiman once said, that children books are the most important books in an adult's life. Children's books are the building blocks for learning and exploration, creating the foundation for the person they grow up to be. If you think about your favourite books - how many of them are from your earliest reading days? And if you hadn't read them - who would you be today? Join Barbershop Books now!