Free ebooks for poor low income kids

[arjaybe]

I think this thread is a good example of the old saying that no good deed goes unpunished.-)

[Katsunami]

Hm?

What good deed is there in giving something away that is free already, either by it being in the public domain, given away for free (freebee books), or being (nearly) free to borrow?

Spoiler:

In Dutch, this is called "Iemand een sigaar uit eigen doos geven" (the literal translation being "Giving someone a sigar out of his own box"). It basically means that you are either 'giving' someone something he already has, or you're giving something in such a way that receiving the benefit will require the receiver to give an equal amount to the giver (often without knowing), therefore gaining nothing. (Think about receiving a €10 deduction on local waste taxes, which is publicly announced by a big campain, while the local government silently increases road taxes and sewage taxes by €5, resulting in a net change of €0.)

If they'd want to provide free e-reading opportunities for poorer people, they should be giving away hardware, not e-books. IMHO...

[Tarana]

RE: "But again, if they've got a device like that, all they need is the library card."

Remember, not all the very poor are in the city or have access to the library. Some lose their privileges because they are late returning books because Mom is working and can't get there. Then they get fines and can't check out books until the fines are paid. Mom has to choose between paying fines and buying food or meds. We have a lot of poor in our suburban community and getting to the library is quite difficult for many since they don't own vehicles. Being able to download books to an ereader would be helpful since even if they don't have wifi at home, they have free wifi at school. As far as challenging kids to read, well, there, I can't help you. My focus is on aiding elderly who are essentially homebound or can't read without a device. And they WANT to read.

[faithbw]

I honestly don't get the point of this program. It's redundant. For some poor youths in very isolated, rural getting to the nearest library may indeed be a struggle. However, I'm not sure if this is an issue for poor youth in most of the country. Also, many libraries will mail library cards to people. Here in Ohio, the State Library will mail a library card to any Ohio resident. This allows you to have access to all of their e-book collection.

I think the bigger issue with getting poor youth to read is NOT access to books but addressing other issues such as overworked parents, literacy issues (there's no point in throwing books at a kid who struggles to read in the first place without), chaotic homes, food insecurity and so many other problems that the poor often face.

[Froide]

Originally Posted by Tarana

Remember, not all the very poor are in the city or have access to the library. Some lose their privileges because they are late returning books because Mom is working and can't get there. Then they get fines and can't check out books until the fines are paid. Mom has to choose between paying fines and buying food or meds. We have a lot of poor in our suburban community and getting to the library is quite difficult for many since they don't own vehicles. Being able to download books to an ereader would be helpful since even if they don't have wifi at home, they have free wifi at school. As far as challenging kids to read, well, there, I can't help you. My focus is on aiding elderly who are essentially homebound or can't read without a device. And they WANT to read.

The posted excerpt states: "the White House sees the modest plan as part of a strategy to address inner city problems [...]" (Emphasis is mine.) So, while some people in isolated or rural areas may struggle to get to a public library, those populations are not this program's target.

Some other problems you mentioned may indeed apply to the target population, though I've edited your post to remove specifics that may or may not apply:

Some lose their privileges because they are late returning books [or don't return them at all, for a variety of reasons]. Then they get fines and can't check out [more] books until the fines are paid. Mom [or whomever] has to choose between paying fines and buying food or meds.

In response to your comment, "As far as challenging kids to read, well, there, I can't help you", I submit: the article states this program is "part of a strategy". The article mentions some elements of that strategy, but not not all, and not many details. So I am very interested in learning how this program and larger strategy will seek to make reading attractive and easy-peasy for the target audience members, who may - as you insightfully noted - face a variety of challenges that likely contribute to their not reading for pleasure.

I think many people are posting knee-jerk reactions about this program without bothering to first read the article or even to carefully read the excerpt.

[Froide]

Originally Posted by faithbw

I honestly don't get the point of this program. It's redundant. For some poor youths in very isolated, rural getting to the nearest library may indeed be a struggle. However, I'm not sure if this is an issue for poor youth in most of the country. Also, many libraries will mail library cards to people. Here in Ohio, the State Library will mail a library card to any Ohio resident. This allows you to have access to all of their e-book collection.

I think the bigger issue with getting poor youth to read is NOT access to books but addressing other issues such as overworked parents, literacy issues (there's no point in throwing books at a kid who struggles to read in the first place without), chaotic homes, food insecurity and so many other problems that the poor often face.

As I posted above, the excerpt from the article clearly states: "the White House sees the modest plan as part of a strategy to address inner city problems [...]" (Emphasis is mine.)

Yes, SOME libraries will mail cards; some others require one to apply in person. And I wonder, since this program targets "low-income children":

1. What percentage of the target audience lives in homeless shelters or other temporary housing for homeless people?
2. Would libraries mail cards to people who don't have permanent addresses?

I concur with your statement:

I think the bigger issue with getting poor youth to read is NOT access to books but addressing other issues such as overworked parents, literacy issues (there's no point in throwing books at a kid who struggles to read in the first place without), chaotic homes, food insecurity and so many other problems that the poor often face.

But again, the excerpt in the OP from the article clearly states: "Working with publishers and libraries, the White House sees the modest plan as part of a strategy to address inner city problems[...] (Emphasis is mine.)

The article specifies some partners or categories thereof: the White House, publishers ("including from the five major publishing houses: Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, Hachette, and HarperCollins"), libraries, and "private sector help from companies including Apple, which pledged $100 million in devices to low-income schools".

It's perfectly legitimate to ask questions about the program, or to be skeptical based on ineffective past programs, but it's not legitimate to rush to judgment or to dismiss this program out of hand, without knowing the bigger strategy or associated tactics.

Originally Posted by Tarana

Remember, not all the very poor are in the city or have access to the library.

While it is less of an issue in urban areas, library access can be an issue. A library that is a 30 minute walk from a family's home would involve an hour to reach and return from, and likely longer if they have a young child with them. Public transit may improve transportation time, but it adds cost. The cost of those transit fares may enable them to purchase several books at a more local charity shop. Ebooks may remove the necessity of going to a library, but that only counts if you have more local access to an Internet connection.

[gweeks]

Here, this sums up my view pretty well.

http://bookriot.com/2015/05/04/free-...elp-poor-kids/

Why don't the publishers and politicians do something useful.

Greg

[tubemonkey]

Library access is easily remedied by other options like -- free bus fare and regular bookmobile service.

[ApK]

I'm not here (here meaning 'participating in this thread') claiming I know how to solve the country's poverty or literacy problems, but I do think the article gweeks posted above makes some good points.
I am reminded yet again on this forum of the Nickel Creek lyric:

"Those books you gave us look good on the shelves at home, and they'll burn warm in the fireplace, teacher. When in Rome...."

While making books easily available to the target demographic of this effort is, I think, a worthy goal for several reasons, it does seem like the approach is akin to giving out hydrogen powered cars where there is no hydrogen fuel infrastructure in place.

In this case this translates to: If the target demographic truly has difficulty with matters of time and access(e.g. library time, access to the Internet, etc.) perhaps effort/money/publicity/tax breaks should first be applied to addressing THOSE things, which I think are far more fundamental to overcoming poverty and illiteracy than mere ownership of books.
Distributing paper books doesn't necessarily serve the desired goal any better.
(see song lyric above).

ETA: TB posted while I typed...same sort of thinking, I think. I was also thinking of stuff like longer school days, before/after hours for school media center access, more community media centers.

Eventually all these issues will come down to insurance and tort reform, I bet.

ApK

[ApK]

Revision:
Since I find this forum far more interesting than reading mass media news, I have to admit I didn't actually read the OP's link, I just read the posts.

The article, as it turns out, clearly states that this thing in involves working with libraries to expand access and reach. The free eBooks from the publishers is just one part of what is overall, as was called out previously, a modest effort.
Sound perfectly reasonable to me. I can't see anything bad coming of this. Even if it doesn't work, it's not a waste. Of money or of breath.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ApK

ETA: TB posted while I typed...same sort of thinking, I think. I was also thinking of stuff like longer school days, before/after hours for school media center access, more community media centers.

Great ideas.

Another option is to give school librarians the authority to issue restricted public library cards to kids who don't have library cards. These cards would only be good for e-content. Then during the school day, kids can go online in the school library and download books from the public library to their reading devices.

If people think hard enough and coordinate between public and private agencies, solutions can be easily found to overcome any obstacles that pop up.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Great ideas.

Another option is to give school librarians the authority to issue restricted public library cards to kids who don't have library cards. These cards would only be good for e-content. Then during the school day, kids can go online in the school library and download books from the public library to their reading devices.

If people think hard enough and coordinate between public and private agencies, solutions can be easily found to overcome any obstacles that pop up.

This is assuming the school actually has a library or a librarian, let alone wifi. In Pennsylvania schools are not required to have a library, so in places like Philadelphia where money is beyond tight there are few libraries.

In 1991, there were 176 certified librarians in city schools. Now there are 11 - for 218 schools.

From http://articles.philly.com/2015-02-0...chool-district

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by Purple Lady

This is assuming the school actually has a library or a librarian, let alone wifi. In Pennsylvania schools are not required to have a library, so in places like Philadelphia where money is beyond tight there are few libraries.

But this sort of thing is exactly why the free e-books idea seems a bit baffling. Instead of something that sounds nice like free e-books but may have little practical value to the target population, I'd rather see donations to prop up the existing structures that should be serving that population.

[Purple Lady]

Originally Posted by Catlady

But this sort of thing is exactly why the free e-books idea seems a bit baffling. Instead of something that sounds nice like free e-books but may have little practical value to the target population, I'd rather see donations to prop up the existing structures that should be serving that population.

It's baffling to you because you understand the reality of the situation. Too many people don't. I never knew that libraries were not required for schools until I Googled it. Some Philly school libraries are managing to open again, but it's a drop in the bucket.