One of Multnomah County Library’s many programs that encourages people of all ages to read is called Raising A Reader, an effort that teaches parents and educators the great importance of reading to children from a very young age. During the month of May, The Library Foundation has been highlighting Multnomah County Library’s various early literacy series, including Raising A Reader.
With close to 40,000 participants, Raising A Reader gives parents who may have a more difficult time reading to their children the resources that make it possible. Parents are given tools to implement early reading practices that will give their children the head start they need to begin school.
As part of The Library Foundation’s May campaign, and also in honor of Mother’s Day, they collected stories from library visitors about who in their lives made them the readers they are now. One girl attributed her love for reading to her dad because he “was always reading adventure, history and geography books. That is how he traveled. I would sit beside him and read while he did.” Read more stories about how other people came to love reading.
One impetus for these early literacy programs is based on research done by the Harvard Center on the Developing Child, which finds that positive interactions between parents and their children can prevent negative effects of stress on the brain. Raising A Reader brings parents and children together in nurturing activities through books and reading with the hope that these exchanges will strengthen brain development in children and their ability to learn.
Another Multnomah County Library series that puts books in young people’s hands is the Summer Reading program for kids and teens. This year’s program runs from June 18 to August 31. Sign-ups begin June 18 at any library location – participation is free.
Watch The Library Foundation’s informational slideshow about early literacy and the Raising A Reader program. For additional information about library programs, visit Multnomah County Library.
Photo from The Library Foundation slideshow.