Atlanta's 'Library Dads' Are Helping Kids Fall In Love With Reading

April 23, 2026

In a world where screens often compete for kids’ attention, one group of dads in Atlanta is proving that a trip to the library can spark something powerful: stronger families, deeper friendships, and a lifelong love of reading.

@thelibrarydads

What started as a simple father-daughter outing has grown into a movement known as the “Library Dads,” a group of fathers who gather with their children to bond over books and build community together.

The idea began when Khari Arnold started taking his infant daughter, Araya, to the library. Wanting to create a meaningful connection with his child while also giving her a lifelong gift, Arnold made reading a regular part of their routine.

The experience quickly became something special.

“After doing it for a year, I decided it would make sense to get other dads involved in learning how to bond through books, through going to the library, and we from there built a brotherhood,” Arnold said.

Inspired by the joy he and his daughter shared, Arnold posted an Instagram reel showing their library adventures and invited other fathers to join in. Before long, local dads began showing up with their children for what became known as “Library Link-Ups.”

The gatherings are filled with story time, one-on-one reading sessions between dads and their children, and plenty of laughter along the way — including what the group lovingly calls “tickle time.”

For many fathers, the group offers more than just reading support. It also creates a sense of connection.

“One of our favorite sayings is, ‘It’s one thing to have men in your circle; it’s another thing to have men in your corner,’” Arnold shared.

@thelibrarydads

That sense of support resonated with dads like Cassell Scott, who recently attended with his 3-year-old daughter, Amale.

“I think it was eye opening to see other dads like myself who are engaged, actually motivating as well,” Scott said.

Behind the fun is also a serious mission. Studies have found that more than half of adults in the United States read below a sixth-grade level, and educators across the country are searching for ways to improve literacy at an earlier age.

Research from Ohio State University found that children who are read just one book a day hear roughly 300,000 more words by age 5 than children who are not regularly read to by a parent.

Arnold has already seen the impact firsthand. He said that by 18 months old, his daughter had a working vocabulary of 250 words.

“We want to bond through books and build a brotherhood,” Arnold said. “One of the things we want to do here is reduce that feeling of isolation and also reverse the literacy crisis.”

Efforts to improve childhood literacy are also gaining support at the state level. Lawmakers in Georgia recently passed the Georgia Early Literacy Act of 2026, which will fund literacy coaches in elementary schools and strengthen dyslexia screening requirements.

But for the fathers of Library Dads, the mission starts with something beautifully simple: sitting down with a child, opening a book, and turning pages together.

And in the process, they are helping raise not only stronger readers — but stronger families too.