The Community Library Project
The Community Library Project is an Indian nonprofit that operates free, community-owned public libraries in Delhi and Gurugram plus a WhatsApp-distributed digital library (Duniya Sabki), serving underserved children, first-generation readers, and adults through read-aloud programs, an open-source reading fluency curriculum, and student leadership development.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersNew Delhi, India
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Community Library Project does
The Community Library Project (TCLP) is an Indian nonprofit founded in 2008 as a volunteer-led read-aloud program at the Deepalaya Learning Centre in New Delhi, formalized into a free community library in 2014-15 and operating three physical branches today (South Extension-Kotla Mubarakpur and Khirki Extension in Delhi, plus Sikandarpur in Gurugram), open seven days a week with all services offered free of charge. It serves children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, first-generation readers aged 4-15+, adult community members, and member-families, with documented outcomes including a 15-correct-words-per-minute mean reading-rate improvement (from 65 to 80) and 80%+ of participants gaining at least five correct words per minute in its structured reading-fluency program. Its product portfolio spans a 40,000+ multilingual book collection, an open-source Reading Fluency Curriculum adapted from English-literacy research for Hindi readers, a Student Leadership Development pipeline, daily read-alouds, book clubs, poetry workshops, cultural events, and Duniya Sabki - a digital library distributing free video and audio read-alouds to 2,000+ members via WhatsApp three times weekly and via YouTube and SoundCloud to 3,800+ member-families.
TCLP's core technology is an open-source reading-fluency curriculum combining partner reading, repeated reading drills, and phonemic-awareness instruction, supported by a lightweight consumer-messaging distribution stack (WhatsApp, YouTube, SoundCloud) rather than a proprietary platform; integration differentiator is the tight coupling of curriculum, digital content, and physical-library operations under one operating model. Revenue is non-commercial: the organization is funded by individual donations (restricted to Indian nationals), legacy giving, corporate and institutional partnerships, and in-kind book donations, with 80G tax exemption under the Indian Income Tax Act. Its go-to-market is community-led - volunteer community walks, word-of-mouth, social media (Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube), and earned media coverage in Scroll.in, Hindustan Times, Indian Express, The Hindu and Mint - and TCLP is a founding member of the Free Libraries Network (FLN), a national coalition of free community libraries, positioning it as a movement-builder rather than a transactional operator.
The Community Library Project firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Community Library Project
- Legal name
- The Community Library Project
- Website
- https://thecommunitylibraryproject.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Community Library Project is an Indian nonprofit that operates free, community-owned public libraries in Delhi and Gurugram plus a WhatsApp-distributed digital library (Duniya Sabki), serving underserved children, first-generation readers, and adults through read-aloud programs, an open-source reading fluency curriculum, and student leadership development.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Community Library Project industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Library Services
- NAICS
- Libraries and Archives (51921), Libraries and Archives (519210), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management (EDAEAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Libraries, Archives & Special Collections (BPAGAHAF), Library-Based Learning Programs (Public Libraries) (EDAAAFAA), Library User Services & Information Support (Reference, Research Help, Instruction Support) (EDAEAGAL), Digital Library & Electronic Resources Operations (e-Resources, Repositories, Licensing) (EDAEAGAF), Literature & Book Clubs / Guided Reading Groups (EDAMAJAG)
Keywords
Where The Community Library Project is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Delhi
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices4 records
Markets served
The Community Library Project business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Others, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Donations from Individuals: Individual donations supporting library operations and book collections. Accepts donations from Indian nationals only.
- Legacy Giving: Bequests and legacy gifts from supporters to establish stable financial foundation
- Corporate and Institutional Partnerships: Support from organizations and partners for programming and library operations
- Donated Books: Accepts book donations to grow collection - books donation is separate from general donations
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free membership and all services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
The Community Library Project product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Community Library Project operates free, community-owned libraries across Delhi and Gurugram, providing free book issuance, read-aloud sessions, reading fluency programs, book clubs, poetry workshops, and cultural events. Its services are supplemented by Duniya Sabki, a digital library distributing video and audio read-alouds, books, magazines, and resources via WhatsApp, YouTube, and SoundCloud, reaching an additional 2,000+ digital members. The organization targets underserved communities, with a particular focus on first-generation readers and children, and offers an open-source reading fluency curriculum and Student Leadership Development program.
Product overview
The Community Library Project (TCLP) operates a portfolio of interconnected library programs rather than a single unified technology product. Its core offering consists of free, community-owned physical libraries in Delhi and Gurugram, supplemented by Duniya Sabki — a digital library delivered via WhatsApp, YouTube, and SoundCloud. Supporting programs include The Reading Project (an open-source reading fluency curriculum), Student Leadership Development, Book Clubs, Poetry Workshops, Cultural & Literary Events, and an Adult Literacy Program. TCLP also serves as a founding member of the Free Libraries Network (FLN), a national collective of free community libraries. Programming Partners workshops extend TCLP's reach through collaborations with dozens of authors, artists, and organisations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Duniya Sabki: Digital library extending TCLP's library experience beyond physical spaces through free video and audio read-alouds, books, magazines, and resources distributed via WhatsApp.
Products and services
- Duniya Sabki Digital Library A digital library program that extends TCLP's library experience beyond physical spaces by offering free video and audio read-alouds, books, magazines, and resources distributed via WhatsApp to members three times weekly and available on YouTube, SoundCloud, and the website. Targets member-families and community members who cannot access physical branches.
- The Reading Project (Open Source Curriculum) An open-source reading fluency curriculum developed by TCLP to help members who can read words but do so very slowly. Uses research-proven practices adapted from English literacy interventions shown to be effective for Hindi readers, including partner reading, independent reading, repeated reading drills, and homework reading. Made publicly available for adaptation in schools.
- Free Libraries Network (FLN)
- Daily Read-Alouds
- Reading Fluency Program
- Poetry Workshops
- Book Clubs
- Cultural & Literary Events
- Student Leadership Development
- Honour Roll
- Adult Literacy Program
- College Ka Haq
- Programming Partners Workshops & Events
Quantifiable outcome
- Mean reading rate increased by 15 correct words per minute (from 65 to 80) in reading fluency program
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Community Library Project
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Community Library Project technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Community Library Project partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- SwechhacoreNGO partnership for running reading fluency programs. Swechha hosted morning sessions at their Khirki Extension offices and recruited participants from Jagdamba Camp.
- Free Libraries Network (FLN)coreCoalition of free library organizations and practitioners acting in solidarity on matters of policy and access to knowledge resources. TCLP is a founding member.
- Let's Open a BookcoreOrganization setting up free libraries in government schools across Spiti Valley and other regions. Collaborated on Kaza Public Library revival.
- WorldReadersupportingPartner organization that provided tablets with 500+ children's books for Kaza Public Library.
- ArtSparks FoundationsupportingBangalore-based educational organization providing EdSparks Collective programme for developing 21st century learning skills through visual art and design-based interventions.
- The YP FoundationsupportingConducted 'Know Your Body, Know Your Rights' workshops on gender, rights, consent, and sexuality with library members.
- Breakthrough IndiasupportingGender and teen wellness workshop facilitators.
- READ AlliancesupportingInterviewed Mridula Koshy on community organizing and library work.
- DeepalayacoreNGO operating the Deepalaya Learning Centre where the first TCLP library was established in 2014-15.
- Various Authors and ArtistssupportingOver 60 individual programming partners including authors (Annie Zaidi, Urvashi Bhutalia, Manoranjan Byapari), poets, artists, filmmakers, and workshop facilitators who collaborate on storytelling, cultural events, and educational programs.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Community Library Project competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- BookTrust (UK): UK charity that provides free books and reading resources to children, with school and community partnerships. Comparable mission (free books for underserved children) and emphasis on reading engagement programs, but operates at national UK scale as an established charity.
- Room to Read: Global literacy nonprofit operating school libraries and reading programs across multiple countries. Comparable to TCLP through its community-and-school library model and emphasis on local-language children's literacy, though it operates at global scale with substantially more resources.
- Pratham: One of India's largest literacy and education nonprofits, running large-scale reading programs across the country. Directly comparable in mission (literacy for underserved children) and digital reach, but operates at a vastly larger scale and with more programmatic diversification than TCLP.
- Libraries Without Borders (Bibliothèques Sans Frontières): International nonprofit focused on expanding access to books, reading resources, and information in underserved communities globally. Comparable through its library-first model and emphasis on creative, low-cost library solutions (including digital), though with a much broader geographic mandate.
- National Book Trust (India): Government of India body promoting the book reading habit and organizing book fairs and reading programs. Comparable as a stakeholder in India's free reading ecosystem, though government-affiliated and focused on book distribution rather than community library operations.
- Pratham Books: India-focused nonprofit publisher of children's books in multiple Indian languages, including Hindi. Comparable to TCLP through its focus on multilingual children's reading material and its role in India's reading ecosystem, though its model is content publishing rather than library operations.
Emerging players
- Quest Alliance: India-focused education nonprofit working on reading, life skills, and 21st-century learning for underserved youth. Comparable through its Indian operating geography, focus on first-generation learners, and partnership-driven program delivery, with overlap in reading fluency interventions.
- 826 National: US nonprofit network of youth writing and tutoring centers with a community-owned store/library model. Comparable to TCLP through its member-led, community-rooted learning space model, though focused on writing/tutoring rather than book lending and based in the US.
Direct peers
- Let's Open a Book: Indian nonprofit establishing free community and school libraries in remote regions including Spiti Valley and Kargil. TCLP's direct partner in extending library services beyond Delhi-NCR, with an overlapping model of free, community-owned free libraries.
- Free Libraries Network: National coalition of free, community, school, college, hospital, and prison-run libraries in India, of which TCLP is a founding member. Most directly comparable as the umbrella network TCLP helped build, with shared mission, policy advocacy, and library operations.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Community Library Project social profiles
Digital presenceThe Community Library Project financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Community Library Project leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
The Community Library Project funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Community Library Project M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Community Library Project
What does The Community Library Project do?
The Community Library Project operates free, community-owned libraries across Delhi and Gurugram, providing free book issuance, read-aloud sessions, reading fluency programs, book clubs, poetry workshops, and cultural events. Its services are supplemented by Duniya Sabki, a digital library distributing video and audio read-alouds, books, magazines, and resources via WhatsApp, YouTube, and SoundCloud, reaching an additional 2,000+ digital members. The organization targets underserved communities, with a particular focus on first-generation readers and children, and offers an open-source reading fluency curriculum and Student Leadership Development program.
Is The Community Library Project a public or private company?
The Community Library Project is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Community Library Project founded?
The Community Library Project was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Community Library Project based?
The Community Library Project is headquartered in New Delhi, India, in the Asia region.
How does The Community Library Project make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations from Individuals are the primary driver. The others are legacy Giving, corporate and Institutional Partnerships and donated Books.
Who are The Community Library Project's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are BookTrust (UK), Room to Read, Pratham, Libraries Without Borders (Bibliothèques Sans Frontières), National Book Trust (India) and Pratham Books. Emerging players are Quest Alliance and 826 National. Direct peers are Let's Open a Book and Free Libraries Network.
Does The Community Library Project have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Community Library Project.
What industry is The Community Library Project in?
The Community Library Project's product category is Public Library Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAGAC, Public Library Operations & Community Branch Management, with a secondary code of BPAGAHAF, Libraries, Archives & Special Collections. Its NAICS code is 51921 and its SIC code is 8200.