WASHINGTON --U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton is scheduled to present more than 30 excess books from the Library of Congress on Thursday to Little Rock Central High School.
The Library of Congress' Surplus Book Program makes duplicate or extra books it receives available to public schools, libraries or other nonprofit organizations.
Cotton, a Republican from Dardanelle, will donate the fiction and nonfiction books to Central and will address students.
"Educators have studied for years the value of a vast and diverse collection of books in the classroom. Recent studies show the more contact children have with books, the better readers they become. I know the importance of ensuring our schools have the resources and tools for optimal student achievement and believe this book donation program can make a significant difference in rural schools across Arkansas," Cotton said in a news release.
The program is available through Congressional offices or by contacting the Library of Congress directly at [email protected] or 202-707-9524.
In May, U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, a Republican from Hot Springs, donated about $2,000 worth of excess books to Norphlet High School after the south Arkansas school's library burned. In 2012, U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford, a Republican from Jonesboro, donated Library of Congress books to several east Arkansas libraries.
Eligible institutions include schools, school systems, colleges, universities, museums, public libraries; local, state, and federal government agencies; and nonprofit institutions that operate as a library or research center and are open to the public. Interested organizations can contact Cotton's office at e-mail [email protected].
Metro on 08/18/2015