Delivering Infinite Book Shelves Case Study
Delivering Infinite Book Shelves (DIBS) for Kids, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit leveraging technology to accomplish a bold mission: we believe Omaha, Nebraska will be the first large, urban community providing an opportunity for every child to read a book at home, every night, for fun, regardless of income level.
The DIBS program provides Omaha students the materials, technology, and support necessary to make this mission a reality. Each child in a DIBS school has the opportunity to check out a DIBS book and read that book at home every night of the school year.
DIBS piloted in 2011 as a result of our founder's experience as a Teach For America 1st grade teacher in New Orleans. Here, he learned first-hand how difficult guiding his students
through their lessons was, when so many were unequipped to read and comprehend the material. Our founder realized teachers need a hands-off way to face this issue head-on, a program that empowers young students to read outside of school, in their homes, without teacher guidance, and encourages their parents and guardians to play a more active role in their reading development. Out of this frustration, DIBS for Kids was born and it has grown consistently every single year since: from serving 25 families in 2011, to serving 75, 300, 450, 515, and now over 1,000 families in 2017.
Our next goal is expanding the program to one more high-poverty elementary school in Omaha. This one school expansion goal is part of a broader campaign goal to expand the DIBS program into five high-poverty schools in Omaha for the 2018/2019 school year.
We believe our program is uniquely positioned. Communities can revel in DIBS' simplicity and trust it successfully touches all of the major pain points in today's complicated education system: providing support for teachers, students and parents to increase literacy when it matters most, without bogging anyone down with unsustainable responsibility. We equip and empower preschool through second grade students so they can realize the potential literacy gives them in life and develop a love for reading outside of the classroom. We believe all children will have the capacity to grow this love, better inform themselves, take advantage of opportunities and make the world a better place.
With Kum & Go’s support we believe the program’s most significant growth is on the horizon
The DIBS program provides Omaha students the materials, technology, and support necessary to make this mission a reality. Each child in a DIBS school has the opportunity to check out a DIBS book and read that book at home every night of the school year.
DIBS piloted in 2011 as a result of our founder's experience as a Teach For America 1st grade teacher in New Orleans. Here, he learned first-hand how difficult guiding his students
through their lessons was, when so many were unequipped to read and comprehend the material. Our founder realized teachers need a hands-off way to face this issue head-on, a program that empowers young students to read outside of school, in their homes, without teacher guidance, and encourages their parents and guardians to play a more active role in their reading development. Out of this frustration, DIBS for Kids was born and it has grown consistently every single year since: from serving 25 families in 2011, to serving 75, 300, 450, 515, and now over 1,000 families in 2017.
Our next goal is expanding the program to one more high-poverty elementary school in Omaha. This one school expansion goal is part of a broader campaign goal to expand the DIBS program into five high-poverty schools in Omaha for the 2018/2019 school year.
We believe our program is uniquely positioned. Communities can revel in DIBS' simplicity and trust it successfully touches all of the major pain points in today's complicated education system: providing support for teachers, students and parents to increase literacy when it matters most, without bogging anyone down with unsustainable responsibility. We equip and empower preschool through second grade students so they can realize the potential literacy gives them in life and develop a love for reading outside of the classroom. We believe all children will have the capacity to grow this love, better inform themselves, take advantage of opportunities and make the world a better place.
With Kum & Go’s support we believe the program’s most significant growth is on the horizon