Bad Manners and Brimstone

ChezMiriam, I agree with all of what you said. The only difference is that in my area, the main library with the most resources is actually in a lower income area. It also seems that the big city library and also the branch in a low income neighborhood have considerably higher usage than the branches in more prosperous suburbs. I'm sure it's because of need.

That being said, if the goal is to get kids who don't normally read much to read more, rather than to give out prizes, they need to focus less on statistical fairness.

Oh, I was misunderstanding - I'd thought the big library was in a more well-off area.

I totally agree with the bolded; it all depends on what they want.  Statistical fairness is a great way of putting it.