Antitrust Lawsuit Reaps Quarter-Million
for Maryland Libraries
Maryland Attorney General J. Joseph Curran Jr. gave a check for $250,000 to the Reading Is Fundamental program on June 29 that is earmarked to buy some 19,500 children’s books for libraries statewide, as well as 11,360 more titles for youngsters’ home libraries.
The money comprises part of the settlement from an antitrust lawsuit Maryland filed along with 43 other states in 1998 against toy manufacturer Hasbro and national chain Toys ’R’ Us for allegedly undermining the sale of popular individual toy items at two warehouse clubs by making them available to the clubs only in more-expensive combination packs, according to a June RIF statement.
“The prior actions of these toy manufacturers affected children the most,” Curran explained, adding that the gift is intended to ensure that Maryland youngsters have “every opportunity to read and to nurture their desires to learn.” The one-time donation more than doubles the nonprofit group’s Maryland book-distribution budget, which is $200,000.
Posted July 10, 2000.
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