The Toledo-Lucas County Public Library
and the Library Legacy Foundation (LLF) are proud to
announce the debut of a Ready to Read initiative and
specialty van, funded by the first phase of a $2.2
million LLF ongoing campaign titled “Planting a Seed to
Read.”
This special project, designed to
concentrate on improving the early literacy skills of
area pre-school children and assisting parents,
grandparents, teachers and caretakers in this focus,
kicked off last month in April at a special news
conference held at the YWCA Northwest Ohio, a Library
partner.
Ohio statistics show that nearly
one-third of Toledo-area children are not prepared to
enter Kindergarten ready to read and write.
Without the proper help and support, many
of these children will never catch up. There is a clear
need to focus on school readiness, and the Library and
LLF are ready to assist the community.
To date, LLF officials have raised 83
percent of their financial goal of $2.2 million. The
first phase of the “Planting a Seed to Read” campaign
will fund the “Ready to Read” specialty van, which is
scheduled to hit the streets of Lucas County in April.
This project will bring essential early literacy skills
and training to the areas of our community that are most
at risk.
Ready to Read project features:
·
A specially equipped library van to bring
library materials into target neighborhoods. Local
award-winning children’s book author/illustrator Denise
Fleming’s artwork from her book Alphabet Under Construction
will be featured on the Ready to Read van
·
Children’s librarians to facilitate Ready to
Read training for parents and teachers
·
Early literacy kits designed for parents and
childcare teachers
·
Technologies that stimulate and encourage
reading
·
Books and materials for families to use at
home
·
Early literacy outreach programming for Head
Start programs, childcare providers, shelters, hospitals and
other agencies with an interest in young children
·
Unique literacy corners specifically for
children up to age five to be added to central city branch
Library locations
·
A future endowment (Early Literacy Fund) to
sustain early literacy initiatives and projects
For more information on the Ready to Read
van, please visit
toledolibrary.org or call Outreach Services at
419.259.5350.
For more information or to contribute to the
“Planting a Seed to Read” ongoing campaign, please call
419.259.5123 or e-mail
library.legacy@toledolibrary.org- See more at
toledolibrary.org
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