Expanding Access to Books Through Civic Action

Jai D., an eighth grader from Arkansas, developed a deep love of reading and history at an early age. Sparked by reading assignments in kindergarten, that interest stayed with him and inspired him to enter the National Civics Bee®. 

For Jai, reading was more than a school requirement, but as he got older, he noticed that many of his peers did not share his enthusiasm. This led him to investigate his peers’ apprehension towards reading, asking, “Why? I love reading. Why do they not like reading?” and “How can I solve that problem?” 

Those questions became the foundation for his National Civics Bee application essay. As Jai began researching literacy and access to books, he realized the issue extended beyond his classmates. It was a broader challenge affecting students across Arkansas. 

He discovered that only 25% of Arkansas eighth graders read at grade level and that books for children ages 10 to 14 make up just 4% of the inventory at his local library. He then asked, “How can I increase that number and help ensure that every student finds a book that they like or connect with?” 

For Jai, those findings pointed to a deeper problem: if students cannot find books that interest them, or that are appropriate for their age group and reading level, it becomes harder to build a love of reading. He began thinking about how access, choice, and relevance could help more students discover books they enjoy. 

He began taking action. He set up donation boxes to collect books and started placing them around his town, including at the sports complex and other local areas where students often spend time. By bringing books closer to the places where young people already gather, Jai aimed to make reading more visible, accessible, and approachable. 

Through his project and his experience in the National Civics Bee, Jai has learned that civics is not only about government or history. It is also about identifying an issue, building a realistic solution, and inviting others to be part of the work. 

Civics, he said, is “about choosing a project that you’re passionate about, developing a solution that you can actually do, and bringing the community together.” 

Pursuing his love of learning, Jai looks forward to the National Civics Bee Championship held in Washington, D.C., where he hopes to visit the museums, see the nation’s government institutions, and “make Arkansas proud.”