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Free Library Helps Adults Bring Reading to Life for Children

The Free Library of Philadelphia holds free workshops to foster early literacy in young children. The series is called Books Aloud!, and is held every month of the school year.

Books Aloud! gives parents and preschool teachers practical ways to develop and nurture a love of reading in children before they go to kindergarten. For many of the programs, preschool teachers can receive certificates of completion to add to their resumes.

To encourage as many people as possible to attend, the workshops are held at branch libraries all over the city. Each month, the workshop will be held twelve times. There are usually supplements that attendees can take back to their homes or classrooms and immediately begin using.

The topic for Books Aloud changes monthly. For October, it is "The Science of Books: Literacy and Science in Early Childhood"; November is "Mother Goose Magic: With Nursery Rhymes"; and December's topic is "Lullabies to Literacy: Music and Language Arts in Early Childhood."

The workshops are for adults to attend, not for children. However, as a new component this year, Books Aloud! programs held at the Central Library will be accompanied by an activity for preschool aged children whose caregivers are attending the workshop. This activity is provided by the Junior League of Philadelphia.

To learn more about the free workshops offered through Books Aloud!, and for specific dates, locations, and times of programs, call 215-686-5372.

10/12/2004

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Department of External Affairs, Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1189
(215) 567-7710, FAX (215) 567-7850