A Book Bank for kids兒童圖書銀行

Zain Abbas

美國俄亥俄州的圖書銀行在孩子們的生活中扮演著一個(gè)獨(dú)特的角色。

Cleveland Kids Book Bank is a non?profit organization distributing free booksto children. The idea took root in 2014，when founders Judy Payne and JudiKovach placed Little Free Libraries aroundelementary schools in Cleveland， Ohio. Atotal of 60 small libraries were placed， al?lowing readers to take and leave books.

Payne and Kovach noticed that morebooks were being taken than left. In Febru?ary 2016， they created the Cleveland KidsBook Bank. Its goal was to get more booksto kids in need.

Colleen Watt， director of operations atthe Book Bank， explained that in order todistribute as many books as possible， theBook Bank partners more than 1，500 orga?nizations. Partners include the Cleveland Metropolitan School District， the GreaterCleveland Food Bank， local YMCAs， andeven community centers.

“We distribute about 50，000 books ev?ery month to organizations in our area thatwork with kids，”Watt said.To date， the non?profit has distributedfour million free books to more than100，000 kids in need in the Cleveland area.

The organization is fulfilling an importantmission that will directly affect childrensfuture.“Two out of three low?income kidsdont have any books in their home，”Wattsaid.

Sometimes， the Cleveland KidsBookBank receives donations from publishers.The Book Bank also gets donations fromcommunity members. There are 17 outdoorbook collection bins throughout theCleveland area.

According to Watt， the Book Bankserves a unique role in kids lives.“Theressomething really special about book owner?ship and the idea that there is no require?ment for a book to be returned，”she toldme.“You really can cherish it and enjoy it.”

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Whats the goal of the Cleveland Kids Book Bank？

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