Books 2 U

Status: current


Purpose: Books 2 U is a partnership between The Library Foundation, Multnomah County Library, and schools within the county designed to increase reading motivation in students from schools where a high percentage of students are not meeting the state reading benchmarks. Books 2 U staff and volunteers introduce students to books through book-talking (visiting a classroom with books that would interest children at their age and reading levels, talking about the books, and reading them to the class) and through providing copies of books being promoted. The evaluation examines changes in students’ reading attitudes and behaviors as a result of the Books 2 U program. A teacher survey assesses the classroom teachers’ impressions of the program’s impact on students.

Project Design: A web-based teacher survey conducted at the end of the school year is used to assess changes in reading attitudes and behaviors of students from the teachers’ perspective.

Funding Source: The Library Foundation

Start Date: Original evaluation 2008; evaluation is ongoing

Project Team

Principal Investigator

Juliette Mackin, Ph.D.

Project Director

Anna Malsch, Ph.D.

Project Staff

Timothy Ho, Ph.D.

Rae Trotta, M.P.H.