From the Founder,

I have always been a thinker. Lately I’ve added pacing to my thinking. A lot of pacing. I’m concerned about the same things you are. Our nine children are grown, but I find myself even more concerned for the world our grandchildren are facing.

In my pacing, I would ask myself what would be of the greatest worth to help my grandchildren maintain hope; what would prepare them to face anything life threw at them?
My thoughts always took me back to the same place. Stories. Stories enable us to see beyond the here and now and open up a world of possibilities. A child that has a reservoir of stories that is broad and deep is simply better equipped for life.

I love the stories found in classic children’s literature. There’s a warmth and a depth to them that I don’t feel in most of the books written today. They are filled with heroes and faith and courage; exactly the kind of stories I want my grandchildren to hear. And exactly the kind of stories that are becoming harder to find.

Which is why Libraries of Hope was created. If you understand the difference I’m describing, you will be excited to know we are bringing many of these treasures back into print for your own personal family libraries.

Which potentially solves another problem I’ve been working through. There is a group of children in Kenya I became acquainted with through a friend. The problems they face are overwhelming. After hundreds of miles of pacing, I realized stories have the power to bless and change their lives, as well. It was the lack of funds that stood in the way of bringing community libraries to them, where reading and books and stories are found.

As you build up your home libraries with inspirational stories, you are generating funds we are able to use to bring a gift of stories to children who wouldn’t have that without your help.

Two problems solved with one non-profit.

So if you came to this page wondering who we are, we are simply a family trying to make the world a little bit better. We are grateful for the response of various experts in the field who, when they heard our story, offered their assistance and expertise to help our program grow.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some more pacing to do……. How can we tell more people about what we have to offer?.....

Marlene Peterson
Founder, Libraries of Hope