We all remember the early days of COVID-19 survival: toilet paper shortages, grocery deliveries, and everyone suddenly at home, all the time.
Schools closed, and at-home learning became the norm for some. For others, learning simply stopped. Without access to classrooms, libraries, or a steady supply of books, many students lost the opportunity to read and stay engaged. COVID didn’t create the problem; it exposed and magnified a long-standing gap in access.
“A lot of students are living in book deserts, which are areas where there’s a lack of quality literature,” says Ryland Adzich.
From Book Drives to Bigger Questions
In 2020, Ryland entered high school in the San Francisco Bay Area. Motivated to help others, she joined a friend organizing book drives. Ryland personally distributed 100,000 books, but knew she could take it a step further.
“I realized I created these book drives, but I don’t often see where the books are going,” she says. “They’re not always getting to environments that are the most effective for learning.”
The realization shifted her thinking from distributing books to creating spaces where reading could truly thrive.
Building Spaces That Support Learning
Ryland partnered with the afterschool program San Francisco City Impact to create a literacy multipurpose room and technology lab for K-8 students in the city’s highest crime district. The lab gives the 3,000 students in the district a safe place to learn, create, and access technology.
Still, Ryland went further.
She began collaborating with New York University professor Dr. Susan B. Neuman, who had developed small literacy spaces in New York City.
“I thought, ‘I can totally adapt that and bring it here to the West Coast and make it my own thing,’” Ryland said. “And that’s what I did.”
Meeting Families Where They Are
She identified a key opportunity: Children ages 3 to 10 were often present in laundromats with long stretches of idle time.
“I found through surveys and sitting in laundromats that that’s kind of the sweet spot,” she says.
Her solution was to create small, accessible literacy spaces embedded in everyday environments. Each laundromat library includes a shelf with 10 to 20 books in both English and Spanish. Some locations add chairs if space allows.
The cost is about $100 to $120 per setup.
“It’s all about how we can bring books to these everyday spaces,” Ryland says, “so books aren’t just associated with the classroom.”
From Waiting to Connection
These spaces are designed to spark curiosity and interaction, and it’s working.
“Feedback has been absolutely amazing, especially from laundromat owners,” she says. “A big thing they are seeing is families talking with one another. Families say their kids want to come to the laundromat and read.”
Volunteers check in every few months to restock books because children often take them home. That’s considered a success.
“It’s such a team effort,” Ryland says. “Knowing you have laundromat owners who want to do this, and people who want to help and donate, that’s been really exciting.”
A Growing Movement
Now a student at Southern Methodist University studying political science and computer engineering, Ryland has expanded the program to Dallas while continuing to grow the footprint in Northern California.
Today, 10 laundromat libraries serve communities across both regions. Each one is a signal that learning can happen anywhere.
With nonprofit status secured and momentum building, Ryland is looking to reach more families and more communities. She hopes to partner with a national laundry brand to help expand her mission nationwide.
Happiness Through Helping Others
A sense of impact is what keeps Ryland going. Putting people first so they can thrive in their education is her true motivation.
“When it comes to happiness and that feeling of making a difference, it’s fulfilling when you’ve helped make someone else’s life journey that much better,” Ryland says. “Helping people is very powerful for me.”
Ryland’s work proves that real change doesn’t always require grand gestures, just thoughtful ones. To learn more about her non-profit, The Creative Destination, or for volunteer opportunities, click here.
Photos courtesy of SMU
