Partnership Brings Free Books to Title I Schools

• By Scott Aronowitz
• 05/27/09

##AUTHORSPLIT##<--->

First Book, a non-profit provider of books to children in need, has partnered with collaborative education software maker ePals to provide free books to Title I schools enrolled in the company's In2Books e-mentoring program. Title I schools, as defined by the United States Department of Education under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, are schools serving the economically disadvantaged.

In2Books promotes student literacy and interest in reading by bringing together students with educators and reading specialists online using collaborative technology. The program entails participants on both ends reading a variety of books from reading lists compiled by a team of children's literature experts. Title I schools are located mainly in low-income neighborhoods that also must contend with limited school and public library resources, further limiting students' access to books in terms of both quantity and quality.

Because of the respective goals of the two organizations, said Kyle Zimmer, president and co-founder of First Book, the partnership seemed a natural fit. "This partnership undeniably aligns with our mission to provide children with access to the age-appropriate and quality books they need," Zimmer said. "Our goal is to enable all children to have an enriched learning environment with new books and educational resources of their own, and In2Books fully supports this goal."