Attorney General's News Release

Augist 31, 2000

Thousands of new books headed to Missouri libraries from Toys R Us settlement with Attorney General Nixon

Jefferson City, Mo. — The new school year will bring thousands of new books to 46 school districts, libraries and organizations in Missouri that are eligible to benefit from a settlement between Attorney General Jay Nixon, Toys R Us and three other major toy makers. Nixon and state Attorneys General nationwide sued the toy manufacturers in 1999, alleging the companies conspired to withhold some popular toys from discount and warehouse chains in a price-fixing scheme.

"The actions of the toy makers affected children and their parents, and it is appropriate that the court order directs this money to the benefit of children. I am pleased that the emphasis will be on children's reading programs," Nixon said. "This is an outstanding opportunity to secure new books for libraries and to help instill a lifelong love of reading and learning in our children."

Nixon is teaming up with the national Reading is Fundamental program to distribute the books to Missouri libraries selected by RIF to benefit from the $258,830 award to the state. The award will provide for more than 20,000 new books appropriate for grades K-3 and an additional $26,599 in direct grant money, allowing distribution of books for ownership to children in RIF programs in Missouri.

RIF is the nation's oldest reading and family literacy program that helps prepare young children for reading and school-age children to read regularly. The 46 libraries eligible were selected based on their participation in RIF and the needs of the students served by each library. Each school district and library in Missouri selected by RIF must respond directly to the RIF program to receive the books and shelving.

The settlement also provided thousands of new toys which were distributed in Missouri and nationwide through the U.S. Marines Toys for Tots program last Christmas.

Missouri RIF programs that will benefit from the Toys R Us settlement:

• Barry County: Monett Elementary School, Verona R-7 School
• Barton County: Barton County Town & Country Friends of Library
• Benton County: Lincoln PTA, R-9 South PTO, Warsaw Parent-Teacher Comm.
• Boone County: Boone County R-IV School District
• Butler County: Altrusa Inter Inc. of Poplar Bluff
• Callaway County: Missouri School for the Deaf, North Callaway R-1 School District
• Cape Girardeau County: Cape Girardeau Public Schools
• Chariton County: Brunswick Elementary
• Cooper County: Boonville R-1 School District
• Crawford County: Crawford County R-I RIF Program
• Dallas County: D.A. Mallory Elementary School
• Greene County: Bois D'Arc PTA, Ozarks Area Community Action Corp. Head Start
• Howard County: New Franklin
• Jackson County: Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City, Eastwood Hills PTA, English Landing Elementary PTA, Line Creek PTA, Westridge Elementary PTA
• Lincoln County: Clarence Cannon Elementary Library
• New Madrid County: New Madrid County R-1
• Perry County: Perryville Elementary School
• Phelps County: St. James R-I School, Wyman Elementary School
• Polk County: Bolivar Elementary PTO RIF, Fair Play Elementary School, Skyline RIF
• Pulaski County: Dixon Elementary School
• Ripley County: Naylor Elementary School RIF
• St. Clair County: West Central Missouri Community Action Agency Head Start
• St. Louis and St. Louis County: Airport School, Church of the Good Shepherd, FOH Children's Psychiatric Hospital Auxiliary, Kirkwood School District, Light of Jewish Special Needs Society, St. Louis County Special School District - Title I Program, University City School District, Valley Park Elementary School
• Shelby County: Clarence Organization of Parents-Educators
• Taney County: RIF of Branson & Hollister Inc.
• Texas County: Cabool PTO
• Webster County: Logan-Rogersville Elementary

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818