From staff reports
CLARION – The Clarion County Library System has launched a new early literacy program called “1,000 Books before Kindergarten” which is specifically designed to give babies and toddlers the best start possible on lifelong reading and learning skills.
The easy-to-follow program is designed to help parents and children get in the habit of reading on a regular basis and improve all-too-important language skills before children enter kindergarten.
Clarion County Library System is a consortium of the five public libraries in Clarion County; Clarion Free, Knox Public, Redbank Valley, Foxburg Free, and Eccles Lesher Memorial. All of the libraries are participating in the 1,000 books program.
The Clarion County Library System is trying to spread the message – that reading to babies and toddlers builds critical language and social emotional skills and reinforces the bond between parent and child.
Each library will have reading logs to help parents track the task of reading a minimum of 1,000 books with their child before kindergarten. Each participating library will also have small incentives when the child reaches certain benchmarks.
Does the goal of reading a 1,000 books sound daunting? It shouldn’t, Jean Smith, Clarion Free Library’s children’s librarian, said “If a parent reads one book a day to their child, that’s 365 books read. By year three, the child will have read 1,095 books.” The level of 1,000 books is based on current research that emphasizes the importance of reading aloud to children from birth onwards.
To get started, visit the local library today and pick up a reading log. The program is made possible through a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Office of Commonwealth Libraries.