C.S. Mott Children's Hospital

The Mott's Children's Hospital Giving Library

Offering Healing experiences through reading.

About the Giving Library:

The Giving Library supports Mott patients and their families by providing a diversion from the stresses of hospitalization through the exciting, imaginative, and educational world of books. In addition, the program promotes literacy and language development by encouraging and establishing important reader-child relationships. Volunteers are happy to read to or with patients, or provide books that the patient can read alone or with parents, siblings or other visitors. Since the Library’s inception in March 2001, thousands of books have been distributed to patients and their visiting siblings thanks to the dedication of volunteers and the generosity of financial and book donors. Because there is no limit to what books can teach or where they can take you, reading and receiving these wonderful gifts can lift a child’s spirits, give a teen respite from treatment or provide new parents with a way to bond with a critically ill infant.

A personal note from Jamie- 

My daughter spent four weeks hospitalized at Motts Children's Hospital. During that time, she was confined to her hospital bed, making for many long, difficult days. On multiple occasions, the sweet Giving Library volunteers stopped by with a cart full of books and told her she could choose any she wanted to keep. 

The books lifted her spirits, filled long hours, and allowed her imagination to travel beyond her hospital room walls. We will forever be grateful for the generosity of the volunteers and those who donated books to the Giving Library.

A personal note from Tara-

Last summer my 11 year old was diagnosed with Mono. Mono is sometimes thought of as a kissing disease and not as serious but in his case it was deadly and he spent the bulk of his summer trying to get his spleen to reduce in size for his safety. Mott offered amazing care and the best part is when he was bored from being in the bed all day he just needed to take an elevator ride to the giving library. This was a catalyst for us to get more involved in contributing to this amazing source and also a huge factor in why we personally understand the need for kids at all care levels to have free access to quality and brand new materials.