I'm not going to be cynical here. I'm going to assume there are no sinister motives, that it's just a large corporation using its resources to get some good publicity.<p>Given that, what difference will this make? In the UK at least, even the poorest of areas has a well-stocked library. The problem isn't access to reading material, it's lack of desire and ability to read it. Those areas need more people actively teaching and encouraging kids to read what books are already there. If it started raining Kindles each containing 1000s of books, I don't imagine anything would change.<p>So is it different in Kenya and Seattle? Does demand for books outstrip supply?
I guess that's about fixing this "problem" <a href="http://www.thebookseller.com/news/children-prefer-print-books-e-books-survey-finds-322447" rel="nofollow">http://www.thebookseller.com/news/children-prefer-print-book...</a>
Numerous studies has shown people still prefer print books. For a lot of reasons, and for me personally, even the best E-Book reader, the Kindle with e-ink, isn't anywhere as good quality as printed book, it needs instant refresh rate, and much higher PPI, And proper black or white colouring.<p>The tech is simply not good enough.
Having said that, current tech means much easier discovery and therefore more likely read.<p>And i think it isn't about digital reading, it about getting people the habit to read books ( not short form like tweet or blogs ). Once there are more people who read books, digital reading will come.