Reading Is Power International Inc. is Columbia, SC based, all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded in 2000. “Reading is Power” provides small libraries to communities in need. The libraries are self-contained and include books, a cabinet, and a simple card-based checkout system. Libraries normally contain 100 to 200 books. The books are carefully selected with the help of our partner The International Center for Spanish Books for Youth at the San Diego Public Library. “Reading is Power” strives to increase the awareness of communities in need. We work closely with schools in Columbia to incorporate our program into a service-learning opportunities for their students. Typically the work required to create each library is performed by 5th to 8th grade students as part of their Language Arts or Spanish classes.