When Jack Furman left sunny Miami for WashU, his car was loaded with the usual college essentials—bedding, clothes, snacks. But tucked among those essentials was something a little unusual—a large, wooden book box and a five-foot post, materials for a Little Free Library he planned to install in St. Louis.

“I’ve always wanted to be a doctor which is what attracted me to WashU initially,” Furman said. “But as I learned more about St. Louis as a city, as a community, I started to wonder how I could help and who I could impact.” 

Now a junior majoring in psychology with a biology minor, Furman has woven that question into the fabric of his college experience. His answer? Expanding access to books in neighborhoods where they’re hardest to find, a mission that reflects his broader commitment to community engagement and educational equity.

Miami roots, St. Louis impact

Furman’s passion for literacy began in high school when he volunteered at Title I schools in Miami, reading to young children, tutoring, and playing sports. What started as a Saturday activity grew into a large-scale book drive and eventually a large network of Little Free Libraries throughout Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.

“I wanted to start a book drive because after we read to the children, they could take the books home with them; so, we needed more books,” said Furman. “We started collecting books and it was great until my house became overwhelmed by them.”

Instead of slowing down, Furman and his younger brother Mason scaled up. They applied for grants, built libraries, and installed them in parks across Miami.

“We saturated every park in the cities of Hallandale Beach, Hollywood and North Miami Beach Florida, with Little Free Libraries, so I asked myself what my next step would be and the only thing to do was to expand our efforts to St. Louis,” said Furman. “This past summer, we were granted seven more Little Free Libraries, giving us a total of 19, three of which are now in St. Louis.” 

Furman personally coordinates installations, often driving across the metro area to ensure access in underserved areas. He’s met with community leaders, city councils and elected officials. He’s even involved local preschoolers in the process, asking for their help to paint and decorate the libraries.

“The goal is not to put the libraries in affluent areas,” Furman said. “I started looking into the areas that needed it the most—those considered book deserts—and realized many of them aren’t far from where we are in Clayton. At WashU, especially as a first-year student, you can feel isolated to campus. It’s hard to see how the rest of the city lives.”

Leadership in action

What began as a grassroots project between two brothers has become a platform for advocacy, pushing Furman to think beyond libraries and toward the deeper issues tied to literacy.

“Improved literacy rates have a direct correlation to decreased incarceration rates and decreased poverty,” Furman said. “In fact, there are some pretty interesting statistics surrounding this topic.”

Some of those statistics Furman mentioned include:

  • Low literacy is strongly related to unemployment. More than 20% of adults read at or below a fifth-grade level – far below the level needed to earn a living wage.*
  • Eighty-five percent of all juveniles who interface with the juvenile court system are functionally illiterate.*
  • More than 60% of all prison inmates are functionally illiterate.*
  • Penal institution records show that inmates have a 16% chance of returning to prison if they receive literacy help, as opposed to 70% who receive no help.*

Furman’s efforts have created unexpected connections for him across St. Louis, and he said that this work has sharpened his public speaking, negotiation, and organizational skills. Yet humility remains central to his approach.

“We’ve gotten a lot of praise for our Little Free Library project, but my brother and I, we’re just trying to help people, and literacy is connected to so much more in a person’s life, beyond just the ability to read,” he said.

A vision for the future

Furman is also actively involved in Alpha Phi Omega, WashU’s largest service organization, where he continues to foster community among likeminded people. Whether making blankets for shelters or installing libraries, Furman sees service as a shared experience.

“It doesn’t feel like I’m doing community service with the work I’m involved with,” he said. “It just feels like I’m doing these events with my friends, and I’m having fun doing them.”

Looking ahead, Furman plans to take a gap year as an EMT before pursuing medicine. His ultimate goal?

“Future Jack just wants to help people and leave the world in a better place,” he said.

For now, his libraries stand as quiet testaments to that mission—bridging gaps, fostering literacy, and building community one book at a time.

* Statistics from the Nevada Department of Corrections Education Services Newsletter