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The NWC Interivew: John Wood, Founder, Room to Read: Page 2 of 6

Nearly 1 billion people can't read or write in the developing world. We start with simple solutions like a school library, books in the local languages, and books in English.

We've now opened 3,300 libraries across the developing world, and will be at 5,000 next year. I can picture those libraries eventually having a computer lab attached as the children gain a baseline level of literacy. Maybe in 2010 or 2015 we can look at a massive build out of IT.

As a technologist do you think you approached the non-profit sector with a different perspective?

In the technology world, we think about scalability. Companies think about reaching tens of millions and then hundreds of millions and possibly billions of customers. I think scaling has been lacking in the nonprofit world. What we're trying to say is, "Is there a way we can build a network of 20,000 schools and libraries?" It's a big number, but I want to set a bold goal, because businesses that set bold goals attract bold employees.