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City Platform Section II, Step 3:
"Offer family literacy activities appropriate for families from diverse cultures and backgrounds in community-based settings such as public libraries."
One in three children entering kindergarten lacks basic pre-reading skills, and almost half of low-income children are read to less than three times a week. Local governments can help distribute books to families, partner with libraries and ESL programs to incorporate family literacy programming, and utilize high-profile figures in the community to showcase programs that increase access to books and set an example of reading to children.
City Examples
Chandler, Ariz.
In the spring of 1999, then-mayor Jay Tibshraeny called for the creation of a Literacy Task Force in Chandler to ensure that all children start school ready to learn. In September of that year, a Task Force was appointed by the City Council (including early childhood professionals, health professionals, parents and grandparents) and staffed by an assistant to the city manager and representatives of the public library.
Based on an assessment conducted by this task force, the Chandler Unified School District and the City of Readers Adult Education Programs teamed up to establish the Chandler Family Literacy program, funded by a Barbara Bush Literacy Foundation grant and a federal Even Start grant. Collaboration between the public library and a regional hospital resulted in the "Books for Babies" program to encourage new parents to read to their infants. A Library Services and Technology Act grant also helped establish a "Family Place" parent and child workshop at one of the Chandler library branches.
Additional activities have been funded through an Early Learning Opportunities Act grant, including two programs to provide home-based instruction for parents.
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Monrovia, Calif.
Working through the public library system, the City of Monrovia supports early literacy activities among young children and their families. Some key activities provided by the library include: a "Time for Twos" Story Hour for toddlers and their parents; a "Munchkin" Story Hour for children ages 3 to 5 with a craft program related to the theme of the story; and "Pajamania," an evening story time geared to children ages 4 to 7.
Additionally, librarians visit day care centers and preschools, as well as elementary schools, to read to children and talk about the library. Once a month, parents who are being tutored in basic literacy or ESL have a special session to help increase their comfort level with reading to their preschool children.
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Resources
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