Janet Doolaege's Blog: Giveaway - Posts Tagged "schools"

We’re all desperate to get our books “out there”, and we’re often tempted to make them free online, just in the hope of attracting readers. I’m not sure that this really works. There are people who will download hundreds of books just because they’re free, but they won’t have time to read them. What’s the point of numerous downloads if the books aren’t actually read?

So how about this: Worldreader.org is a not-for-profit organization that has been distributing e-readers to schools in Africa and Europe. It’s cheaper and more effective to supply e-readers than paper books in the sort of quantities that are required for education and the teaching of literacy. Once the gadgets (basic mobile phones and Kindles) have reached their destination, it costs almost nothing to keep them stocked with reading material – and this means not just textbook content but novels! Stories! The sort of things that children all over the world will love to read, given the chance.

I have three books for children that have been mouldering on the Web for some time because I don’t do much marketing and consequently there haven’t been very many downloads. I’ve just donated to Worldreader.org the right to download them free of charge. Who knows? It would be wonderful if children actually read them! And I also feel I may be doing something useful. (Of course, they remain available for sale as well.)

Queries to: publishing@worldreader.org