MO Secretary of State, Jay Ashcroft, says that libraries “expand opportunity and unleash potential” in their communities. This year, funding for Missouri libraries faces deep cuts at both the state and federal levels. State funding, through the state library, and federal funding, through the IMLS, helps libraries provide adequate internet connections, materials, and many other services that our communities need.
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Getting kids ready to read doesn’t have to be difficult. Even the youngest babies are primed to learn. Share cloth or board books with high contrast pictures, books with faces, or books with interactive aspects (touch and feel books, or lift the flap books). Most of these books can be enjoyed in ten minutes or less. Share nursery rhymes and silly songs with babies. Use different voices and sounds for each character. Don’t worry if your child wants to read the same book over and over again! If she enjoys one book, she can learn to enjoy others!
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Families who come to the children’s library at the Harrisonville Branch have an opportunity to check out an iPad loaded with fun and engaging early literacy apps!
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Racing to Read is a program that educates parents on early literacy skills in fun and interactive ways. Pajama Storytime has become a Racing to Read program that incorporates these early literacy skills. Beyond storytime, our children’s specialist, Ms. Sara Steinmetz, is going out and promoting early literacy in the community. She will be visiting Harrisonville Head Start and Thunderbird Apartments later on this month.
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As a librarian, I think a lot about reading and one thing I’m particularly thankful for is that my parents and grandparents and other members of my extended family read to me from an early age. In hindsight, it was probably the single most valuable thing they could have done for me during my early years. Research shows that children raised in homes where reading and family literacy activities are common are more likely to succeed in school and become better readers later in life.
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