The Clackamas Bookshelf

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The Clackamas Bookshelf

The Clackamas Bookshelf gives new and used books to low-income children across Clackamas County! We believe that all children deserve books to call their own.

The Clackamas Bookshelf provides free books to low-income children in Clackamas County, with the understanding that widespread access to books offers positive, long-term benefits to our entire community. Reading a good book allows us to expand our imaginations, learn something new, and simply relax. The uncomfortable reality is that in many low-income homes, the scarcity of books negatively affects children’s futures.

*Students who are not proficient readers by the end of 3rd grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school.

*In Clackamas County, 25% of 3rd grade students are not reading at grade level (2012).

*Children who start Kindergarten with limited exposure to reading are still performing below their peers on reading assessment tests by 4th grade.

*Thirty-three percent of entering Oregon kindergarteners could name five or few letters and 14% couldn’t name a single letter. We want to change this forever. And that change begins with a book.

*Books are a great equalizer. Access to books in the home directly predicts reading achievement and educational success, regardless of household income and parental education.

*Compared to their peers, children who own their own books: enjoy reading more, read more books, read more frequently, read for longer lengths of time, have more positive attitudes to reading, and have higher attainment.

*Children read more when they have access to engaging, age-appropriate books, magazines, newspapers, and other reading materials.

*Fourth-graders with 25 or more books in the home had higher scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading test than children who reported having fewer than 25 books. We invite you to get involved by donating used books, purchasing new ones, holding a book drive, or simply spreading the word about our mission!

24/10/2026

Where is The Clackamas Bookshelf now? At parent-teacher conferences at Kraxberger Middle School! Met many happy parents and students who were thrilled to pick out books to call their own!

22/10/2026

Thank you to Beth for getting books out to our youngest readers at the ESD! It is so important that children learn the importance of books from the time they are babies!

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18/10/2026

Another fun day with the women of Oregon City Women’s Club! Cleaning books, eating snacks and singing songs of the 60’s!

17/10/2026

We are open today -- Saturday -- from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thousands of books, all 50 cents or less. All sales CASH ONLY.

Find us at 17777 Webster Road in Gladstone.

15/10/2026

HUGE 50 CENT BOOK SALE
Saturday, Oct. 17
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
17777 Webster Road, Gladstone
CASH ONLY

Thousands of titles, all 50 cents or less. Kids & Young Adult books are just 10 cents each! [Cash only]

You'll discover Mysteries, Thrillers, Kids & Young Adult titles, Novels, Fantasy, and Historical Fiction. Memoirs, Business, Religion, Self-Help, Science & Nature, Humor, Cookbooks, Crafts/Quilting/ Crochet, Gardening, Travel Guides, and Health. Romance, History, Large Print, and How-To titles. Plus $3 jigsaw puzzles and greeting cards; $2 bookmarks; and 50 cent DVDs, CDs, and Books on Tape.

BOOK DONATION DROPOFF
Used book donations can be dropped off during the sale, or inside Clackamas Les Schwab on Highway 212 & 106th during their business hours. [Mon-Sat.]

DONATE
Donate at www.theclackamasbookshelf.org or become a Bookshelf Booster with special monthly privileges.

UPCOMING SALES [all 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kraxberger School]
Nov. 15
Dec. 12

SUPPORT OUR MISSION
Each purchase and donation helps our nonprofit give books to low-income children in Clackamas County. Since 2014, we've given over 274,000 books to kids.

14/10/2026

Where is The Clackamas Bookshelf now? At Canby High School parent-teacher conferences, of course!
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06/10/2026

BREAKING NEWS!

The Clackamas Bookshelf will receive an electric cargo van provided by a grant of over $91,000 from Portland General Electric’s Drive Change Fund. Funded by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Clean Fuels Program, the new Bookmobile will be used to deliver books to low-income children across Clackamas County.

“The Clackamas Bookshelf is delighted to receive this gift, which will make our book deliveries more efficient, affordable, and environmentally sustainable,” said Executive Director Katy Preston. “This is a dream come true, and starting in 2027, our new bookmobile will help us carry more books to kids than ever before.”

“Portland General Electric is excited to award funds from DEQ's Oregon Clean Fuels Program to support our partners in expanding cleaner transportation systems across the state,” said Elyssia Lawrence, senior manager, Product Manager and head of PGE’s Transportation Electrification team. “Transportation electrification plays an essential role in accelerating the clean energy transition. It is going to take all of us working together to achieve a cleaner and more equitable future for all Oregonians.”

05/10/2026

Do you need art stuff? Like to collage? We have a large bag of dust jackets with so many beautiful pictures and we would love to share them with you! Let us know if you are interested and we will set them aside for you!

24/09/2026

A huge thank you to Clackamas Sunrise Rotary for coming in and cleaning a ton of books! A good time was had by all! And as Rotarians always say “service above self”. 🥰

23/09/2026

We had a great time handing out books at the Kraxberger Open House! Many smiles and happy readers! Thanks to Jo and Julie for getting kids excited about books! Photo cred: Gladstone School District

Address

Telephone

5039083766

Website

http://www.TheClackamasBookshelf.org/

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