Our Story
About Tannenbaum Libraries
A lifelong love of books. A conversation that changed everything. A mission to make sure every child, no matter where they sleep, has a story to read.
The Founder
Meet Megan Tannenbaum
Megan Tannenbaum is the owner of Walnut Street Bookkeeping and a lifelong reader. Books have always been central to her life, fostering new ideas, perspectives, and comfort.
When Walnut Street Bookkeeping became established, she made a goal to donate one new book a week to local libraries and organizations in her area. Megan made sure to always choose books very intentionally, always focusing on titles that represented all walks of life, kindness, and empathy.
After reaching out to the local shelter to see if they would accept books, she was surprised to discover they only had a "handful" of children's books available to the kids staying in their care. This new information immediately created a spark inside of her. She realized that the children who most needed the comfort and wonder of a good book were often the ones with the least access to them.
From that moment, Tannenbaum Libraries was born: a program dedicated to placing fully stocked bookshelves in shelters across the country, completely free of charge, so that every child who walks through the door has a story waiting for them.
When Megan was young, her dream was to become a librarian. Now, through Tannenbaum Libraries, she is becoming a librarian in a very different sense, creating access to books that will spark wonder and curiosity in all who read them. ♥
A legacy of reading for the kids who need it most.
Tannenbaum Libraries is funded entirely by Walnut Street Bookkeeping. There are no grants, no fundraising campaigns, no strings attached. Just one person's belief that books belong in the hands of every child.
What We Believe
Our Values
Every child deserves access to books.
A child's circumstances should never determine whether they get to experience the joy of reading. We exist to close that gap.
Diversity, inclusion, and empathy matter.
We curate books that reflect the full range of human experience: stories where every child can see themselves, and stories that build bridges to lives different from their own.
Books are a gift, not a loan.
Every bookshelf and every book we send belongs permanently to the shelter. No returns, no conditions, no expiration.
Does your shelter serve children?
We'd love to hear from you. The application takes about 10 minutes and there is absolutely no cost, ever.