Return-Path: <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i16K6dI03119; Fri, 6 Feb 2004 15:06:39 -0500 (EST) Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2004 15:06:39 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <F60C57FC84BCA74A9501EEBC6D272EED0212B52C@mail.lvccld.org> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Walkowicz Evelyn" <walkowicze@LVCCLD.ORG> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-family@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-FAMILY:1784] Remember the library X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; Status: RO Content-Length: 2687 Lines: 17 I've been involved in family literacy efforts at the Las Vegas - Clark County Library District for the past several years. Actually, I've been educating myself in this area for the past 10 years, and have worked with Head Start groups, teen mothers, parent organizations, and the Nevada state sponsored Family to Family Connection helping parents understand the importance of sharing books and language experiences with their babies and helping them create a language-rich environment for their children. Two years ago, I conducted family literacy workshops for our library district staff, and last year conducted our first annual Family Literacy Celebration. This year, the Las Vegas - Clark County Library District will be conducting staff training and developing a pilot program which will involve 100 at-risk families in a formal Family Literacy Program. Since you're probably wondering why I'm telling you all of this, let me clarify. In reading over the information provided on your listserve about the Family Partnership in Reading Project, and checking the list of project partners, I was dismayed to discover that there was not a single public or school librarian in the group. Unfortunately, this didn't really surprise me since I'm very used to the public library not being considered when it comes to literacy. This, of course, is probably our fault as much as the fault of the education community. Regardless, I want to encourage all of you involved in family literacy to remember your public libraries! While certainly not every one is able to provide the same level of programming as we are here in Las Vegas, many public libraries do have well qualified staff who do family story times, conduct adult literacy classes, and can partner with other entities to provide instruction in choosing appropriate materials for various age levels and sharing books effectively. Our services are free, and we can all certainly support families who can't begin to purchase enough books, music CD's, etc. to provide a wide range of exposure for their preschoolers and beginning readers. Consider talking to your local public librarians and see what amazing resources may be available - and please include your local children's librarian in the dialog when discussing literacy and planning literacy programming. We really have a lot of experience to bring to the table. Off my soap box now....thanks for your attention. Please let me know if I can help your efforts in any way. Evelyn Evelyn Walkowicz Youth Outreach Librarian/WOW Las Vegas - Clark County Library District 833 Las Vegas Blvd. N. Las Vegas, NV 89101 702.507.3584 fax: 702.507.3554 walkowicze@lvccld.org
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