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獨特的角色。

Cleveland Kids' Book Bank is a nonprofit organization distributing free books to children.The idea took root in 2014,when founders Judy Payne and Judi Kovach placed Little Free Libraries around elementary schools in Cleveland, Ohio.A total of 60 small libraries were placed, allowing readers to take and leave books.

Payne and Kovach noticed that more books were being taken than left.In February 2016, they created the Cleveland Kids'Book Bank.Its goal was to get more books to kids in need.

Colleen Watt, director of operations at the Book Bank, explained that in order to distribute as many books as possible, the Book Bank partners more than 1,500 organizations.Partners include the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, local YMCAs, and even community centers.

“We distribute about 50,000 books every month to organizations in our area that work with kids,”Watt said.

To date,the non-profit has distributed four million free books to more than 100,000 kids in need in the Cleveland area.The organization is fulfilling an important mission that will directly affect children's future.“Two out of three low-income kids don't have any books in their home,”Watt said.

Sometimes, the Cleveland Kids' Book Bank receives donations from publishers.The Book Bank also gets donations from community members.There are 17 outdoor book collection bins throughout the Cleveland area.

According to Watt, the Book Bank serves a unique role in kids'lives.“There's something really special about book ownership and the idea that there is no requirement for a book to be returned,”she told me.“You really can cherish it and enjoy it.”

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What's the goal of the Cleveland Kids'Book Bank?

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