THE LIBRARY FOUNDATION

The first years of life define a child’s future. From birth to age five, reading with a trusted adult in a warm and loving environment can transform a child’s ability to learn to read and to succeed in school.

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​More than a third of children under age five in our community face the risk factors of  low literacy. Every year, thousands of local children enter kindergarten without the strong foundation they need to learn to read. Many never catch up.

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​Books are essential to literacy, but it takes more than just books for a child to have the learning experiences they need. Parents and other adults need to read regularly with a child to create healthy brain development. 

Gifts to The Library Foundation support far-reaching programs that are proven to get families reading with their young children. These programs reached more than 85,000 children and adults last year. Librarians educate parents on research-based techniques that prepare a child's brain for learning. They also put books and materials directly into the hands of families, fostering a reading culture where it is most effective — in the home. 

This year, newborns and parents will go home from clinics and hospitals with inspiring literacy education, high-quality children’s books, and the encouragement to visit the library. Bilingual librarians will reach parents and teach them about early brain development at Head Starts and through the WIC (Women, Infants & Children) program. More than 30,000 children's books will go into homes in 30 languages and cultures.