Penn State students are giving area children a chance at success by providing them with free children's books.

Since the beginning of the school year, 4,624 books have been distributed to underprivileged children in the area through the Penn State First Book Campus Advisory Board (CAB).

CAB President Tayo Giwa said he brought First Book to campus in September 2003 because he recognized the importance of children's literacy.

"Low-income kids do not have access to new books," he said. "Educational inequality is a big problem in our society. Literacy is important, starting at a young age."

Giwa said First Book, a national nonprofit organization, works with groups such as Big Brothers Big Sisters and Head Start to supply low-income children with their first new books.

The groups request the books they want and First Book orders them directly from publishers at a discounted rate.

First Book's CAB collects money and then orders the books through the First Book headquarters in Washington, D.C.

First Book's CAB helps children from all over Centre County, like those involved in the Lycoming-Clinton Head Start program, near Lock Haven.

Harriette Justh, a teacher at Lycoming-Clinton Head Start, said working with First Book has been "wonderful."

"We're very grateful," she said. "We've distributed books to over 400 children. Head Start emphasizes literacy. As part of the literacy, we want books in the home. It's a very vital part of our program."

Kim Jessup, First Book campus outreach director, said Penn State is one of the 79 campuses now involved with the organization.

"Penn State's campus advisory board has been a model of the type of work we want to do," she said.

"It's so inspiring to hear from students to know they're making a difference in their community," Jessup added.

Giwa said First Book got much of its money from a promotion done through the Penn State Bookstore.

"They gave us something like 10 percent of the proceeds they made on merchandise," he said. "They've really done a lot for us."

Penn State Bookstore General Manager Tom Bauer said he decided to help First Book because he thinks children's literacy is an important community issue.

He added that in the last two years, the Penn State Bookstore has donated more than $5,000 to First Book Penn State.

"We're here to educate people," Bauer said. "The Penn State Bookstore is here to serve the staff, students and the community. You've got to teach people when they're young. It's much easier to teach someone young than when they get older."

First Book Penn State co-founder Susie Sieminski said she hopes to continue working with the Penn State Bookstore in the fall.

"Illiteracy is something that we cannot tolerate as a community and as Americans," she said. "First Book is trying to make sure everyone gets an opportunity to own books, to read and read well. I hope new members join so they can keep the program going. Reading is fundamental to all other aspects of school. If kids can't read, they'll always be behind in school and in life."

First Book Penn State Treasurer Sean Cooney said being involved doesn't take up a lot of time. "You just have to be motivated. Everybody needs to know how to read," he said. "This is a great organization that will help underprivileged kids in the area."

Students interested in joining First Book Penn State can e-mail Cooney at sdc187@psu.edu.