Supporting children on an education journey that goes beyond the mechanics of literacy towards a holistic ability to learn and be interested in learning is best facilitated by providing a rich supply of reading and education resources. Funding limitations, however, along with considerations such as storage and transportation of books and educational resources, mean that large, well-resourced, varied libraries are extremely challenging to deliver and maintain in low-income communities. If new readers are expected to push beyond early literacy towards a long-term interest in learning, they need access to literacy fundamentals as well as material that inspires a desire to read. This paper surveys academic and NGO research activities in support of Library For All’s approach to library development.