Publisher offers 1,000 free books for poor schools

David Cohen -Evening Standarad - 9 Nov 2011

A major publisher of illustrated classics has offered to boost the libraries of poorer schools in London with a remarkably generous offer of 1,000 free books worth £30,000.

Heartened: the Folio Society's Robert Preece is proud to support  campaign.

Inspired by the Standard's Get London Reading campaign, and our report yesterday of how St Marylebone School in Westminster transformed their run-down library into the "coolest room in the school", the Folio Society has pledged to help another 20 high schools kick-start their own libraries.

The first 20 eligible schools to apply will each get 50 superbly illustrated hardback classics delivered to their door free of charge. The selection will include Moby Dick, Tom Sawyer, Robin Hood, The Canterbury Tales, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, the Complete Works of Shakespeare, A Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World, and dozens more.
Robert Preece, managing director of The Folio Society, said: "I was heartened to read about the amazing work that the librarians at St Marylebone's are doing. As a father with two daughters at an inner London school, I understand well the worries that parents face. We are proud to be supporting the Standard's literacy campaign. It is our hope that we can instil a love of books and reading in children of all ages for generations to come. "
The Folio Society publishes and sells classic books, renowned for their original bindings and illustrations.
Get London Reading has raised more than £250,000, enough to train and support more than 500 reading mentors with our partner, Volunteer Reading Help, which provides one-to-one support for struggling pupils in primary schools. We have already placed 170 volunteers in 110 schools. Another 400 applicants are being trained by VRH.
Full piece here.