CMLE Elementary School Libraries in a Title 1 school:

Here is some potentially interesting information from Overdrive.com on eBook donations! Below is a press release they have issued. You may be receiving this directly from them; but to be sure no one is overlooked, we are copying it here for you. There is an application to fill out (linked below). If you have questions, you can contact Overdrive; if you need some assistance with the form, or want to talk about ideas contact us at CMLE Headquarters and we can help! (We are available to assist with any grant applications!)

See if this is right for you and your school. We will share other offers and grant opportunities periodically on this site; and we put all the grants we find on our Grants and Awards calendar. Check it every so often to see if there are opportunities for you to get money and/or awards! CMLE Headquarters is always available to help you with the applications, or to help you think through the process of applying.

Here are the FAQs for the program:

Who can apply for this program?

Any adult who works in a Title 1 (or Title 1 eligible) school can apply.  You must apply for each school individually.

What happens after I submit my application?

OverDrive will review your application and contact you if your school is selected to receive one year of free K5 Quickstart access.

What grade levels is this intended for?

The K5 Quickstart program is intended for schools serving students in Grades K through 8.

What will this cost my school?

Nothing! There are no purchase or future commitments required to receive your one year of free K5 Quickstart access.

“We are serious about empowering young readers. To that end, we have launched a new initiative that will make hundreds of popular eBooks available to children for free. As part of OverDrive’s 30th anniversary and mission to create “a world enlightened by reading,” we are donating a collection of eBooks to up to 1,000 elementary schools. Teachers, administrators, librarians and other school officials can apply to receive the donation at their school through the end of the 2016-17 school year.

To promote reading, encourage digital learning and support literacy goals, OverDrive partnered with award-winning publishers including Lerner Publishing Group, Britannica Digital Learning, Open Road Integrated Media, Dawn Publications and ABDO. This donation consists of a premium collection of eBooks in a variety of subjects for young readers, including Read-Alongs, interactive titles that sync recorded narration with highlighted words as the narrator reads. These teacher-recommended eBooks include engaging titles such as A Promise is a Promise, The Mallory Series, Mr. Popper’s Penguins and Noisy Bug Sing-Along. The eBooks, from the K-5 QuickStart reading program, can be opened instantly in the browser with no app or downloads required. Students can read the same eBook at the same time in class, at home and everywhere, both online and offline.

“OverDrive is constantly championing literacy and expanding opportunities for students to read in the classroom, library and at home,” said Herb Miller, Director of Education at OverDrive. “The eBooks in this reading program enable students instant access to quality digital books, anytime and anywhere. It’s the perfect way to celebrate 30 years of our commitment to reading.”

The OverDrive eBook donation is open to Title 1-eligible pre-Kindergarten, elementary and middle schools serving students in pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade located in the United States and its territories. For more information and to apply for the donation, visit the QuickStart webpage.

For more information about the OverDrive Education service for schools, please visit overdrive.com/schools.”