One of the few down sides to the eBook revolution, from my perspective as an unashamed eBook lover, is that it raises the bar for getting books to kids in underserved communities.
The current state of reading among children in poor and rural areas is terrible in America, with as little as one book for every 300 children by some accounts. According to Reading is Fundamental, "most kids living in poverty have no books at home." If the industry changes such that these kids will need to shell out for an e-book reader just to get a book, that ratio is going to get a lot worse.
Luckily, there are ways you can help.
1. Reading is Fundamental
Hat tip to fellow blogger Sara S. for bringing this wonderful PSA to our attention. It features Jack Black, LeVar Burton, Carrie Brownstein, and others, and promotes the Reading is Fundamental program which distributes books to children living in poverty.
You can help Reading Is Fundamental by donating, volunteering, or buying some of their great RIF merchandise, from coffee mugs to iPhone cases.
2. Books for Africa
Somewhat farther from home, Books for Africa is a non-profit organization which collects unwanted textbooks and library books and ships them out to communities throughout Africa. Their goal is to end the "book famine" in Africa. To that end, in 2012 they shipped a staggering 2.2 million books to 22 countries on the African continent. If you have unwanted books (particularly textbooks) you can mail them to BFA's collection center in Minnesota.
3. First Book
First Book works directly with publishers (including Random House and Disney) to purchase age-appropriate books for kids at a steep discount, and distributes them to needy children. A mere $10 donation can purchase four new books for kids in need.
Image courtesy Flickr/:: Wendy ::
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