Open eBook Access
Open eBooks, an initiative and e-reader app that makes thousands of popular, top-selling eBooks available to children in need for free.
The initiative is designed to address the challenge of providing digital reading materials to children living in low-income households and offers unprecedented access to quality digital content, including a catalog of eBooks valued at more than $250 million.
The Open eBooks app allows users to instantly borrow up to 10 eBooks at a time to their digital device. Each borrowed eBook will be available for 56 days before it must be renewed, or the eBook will be automatically returned. Because of this automatic return process, there are no late fees or penalties for Open eBooks users. Students and their families can choose eBooks based on the topics that get them excited about reading and learning, and sort by reading level, grade level, or title. The app can be used anywhere with an Internet connection.
President Obama announced a nongovernmental eBooks effort in support of the ConnectED Initiative at the April 30, 2015 Kids Town Hall held by the White House at the Anacostia Branch of the District of Columbia Public Library. ConnectED is a multi-pronged effort designed to provide all youth with access to high-quality digital learning tools.