Books are more than collections of words. Books can transport readers to new places, new adventures and new experiences. When children pick up books, they open doors for learning and growth.
Senior Louella Jacobsen has had a love of books since the second grade. Over time, she has explored various genres, starting with historical fiction books at the age of eight and progressing to the dystopian genre in middle and high school.
“Reading books opens up new experiences through different perspectives,” Jacobsen said. “They open up new worlds and allow you to explore something that you might not be able to physically.”
Jacobsen believes in the importance of reading in childhood and the joy it brings to children. She realized that not every child has that opportunity, so she decided to do something about it.
“My friends were always talking about how they wanted to give their books to me because they never used them,” Jacobsen said. “I thought I could collect and donate all of them.”
What started as small contributions to a foster care center eventually led to the creation of Literateye, a nonprofit dedicated to providing exceptional literacy experiences to underserved communities.
Upon moving to Dallas in 2022, Jacobsen shifted her target audience towards Dallas Independent School District (DISD) schools, particularly those with underprivileged students.
However, she faced the challenge of finding donations and connections in her new city.
“I had no idea where to start, where to go or what to look for,” Jacobsen said. “I was brainstorming different ways to find books when I drove past Half Price Books.”
She decided to enter the bookstore and ask how they acquired their books. As it turned out, the books were previously owned and sold to the store.
“I asked them if they give donations, and it turns out that they do,” Jacobsen said. “And now I have a partnership with them.”
Through her collaboration with Half Price Books, Jacobsen creates connections with local authors who offer book readings at the DISD schools she visits.
Her favorite part of the visits is seeing the students’ reactions to meeting their favorite authors and how Jacobsen’s work impacts them.
“I’ve never seen kids that excited to get books,” Jacobsen said. “I feel like I really made a difference.”
Since she began her nonprofit, Jacobsen has reached over 5,000 students across the Dallas metroplex and has donated over 7,000 books.
Jacobsen extends her passion for books by writing her own.
“I read this book, and I was really upset with the ending,” Jacobsen said. “I realized I could choose the plot and write a book that I love. I basically started writing a bunch of random things, and my original idea is completely different than what it ended up being.”
Her book, intended for middle school readers, follows the journey of a female protagonist fighting against a corrupt regime. She plans to publish her novel later this fall.
As Jacobsen continues to spread her love for literacy, she reflects on how meaningful her nonprofit has been to her.
“It satisfied my love for reading,” Jacobsen said. “It makes me grateful for the fact that I’m able to read, and I love it so much that I want other people to be able to have that too.”
