Eager Readers is a reading program designed to encourage students to read for their enjoyment outside of school, by providing free books to under-served children.  Our Branch efforts in providing books to elementary students began in 1996 and continues to the present day.  Our philanthropic effort is designed to motivate children to enjoy reading and become lifelong readers through the power of choice.  We visit elementary schools within the Lucia Mar Unified School District.  We invite children to select a book to keep and we encourage them to share the books with family members.  Many of the children have not previously owned books of their choice and research suggests that self-selection of reading materials improves student reading outcomes.  Each year our AAUW Branch gives away about 900 books.  We know from the thank you letters that we receive from the children and teachers that the students are having fun reading and we know that we are helping to motivate the practice of reading.