Features
Ohio Ready to Read
Feature: Reading and the modeling of it is
key if Ohio's youngest children are to be successful. Including programs at:
-Amos Memorial Library, Sidney
-Cuyahoga County Public Library, Parma
-Warren Trumbull Public Library, Warren
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Baby Brilliant
Helping to make babies brilliant has always been an important mission for the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County.
Governor honors program and declares April 30, 2007 El Dia de Los NINOS/ DAY of the CHILD in OHIO
The State Library of Ohio and the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs are working with libraries to serve Spanish speaking patrons.
May 2007
Ohio Ready to Read Initiative
The State Library of Ohio and the Ohio Library Council have created the Ready To Read Initiative to help address the early literacy needs of Ohio’s youngest citizens. This far-reaching initiative will work with state and community organizations to provide the resources and training necessary so that children will be literacy-ready when they start Kindergarten.
The Ready To Read Initiative will focus on outreach to Library Boards of Trustees, Library Directors, Children’s Librarians, and Early Childhood Specialists in public libraries.
The Ready To Read Initiative is committed to:
- * Preparing an overview of the research available on the importance of early literacy.
* Training at least one professional library staff person in each library building in Ohio using the Public Library Association’s Every Child Ready To Read® program.
* Educating Library Directors and Boards of Trustees on the importance of committing resources to this effort.
* Establishing partnerships on the local and state level with those that are working in this area – Ohio Department of Education, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, Ohio Department of Health, and the Kent State University School of Library and Information Science.
* Training Library Administrators on the development of outreach opportunities with local early childcare organizations.
* Developing a website to provide vital information, resources and links on early literacy. Read more...
State Librarian’s Report
Children are born learning. Anyone who has watched a newborn knows that she is taking in information from that first cry. And how quickly children learn as they grow!
We know too that children are most influenced by their first teachers: their parents and primary caregivers. Those who are sung to, held, and read to are the children who are best prepared to respond to additional stimuli and to more readily learn.
Because we believe all this to be true and because we believe that all parents and caregivers want the best for their children, the State library is funding a training program entitled Ohio Ready to Read Initiative. With the help of librarians around the state, we hope to teach parents and caregivers the importance of reading to the children in their care. Only if children enter school ready to read and to learn will we be successful in “turning around Ohio” by producing a state of lifelong learners.
Within this month’s newsletter you will find testimonials from three libraries who have incorporated the Every Child Ready To Read® concepts into their library programming. They share information on the benefits to parents and young children of activities which stimulate early learning.
In addition, we list a number of libraries who are incorporating early literacy concepts as part of their overall organizational planning. Ohio’s libraries are moving forward to create the groundwork for lifelong learning.
Also, don't forget to check out my library visits journal at: www.library.ohio.gov/visitjournal/index.html
Jo Budler, State Librarian
jbudler@sloma.state.oh.us
