Through a $7,000 grant from the Windsor Rotary Club and Rotary District 5440, the Clearview Library was able to launch 1000 Books Before Kindergarten in fall 2017, a national program that works to promote reading to babies, infants, and toddlers.
“One of Rotary’s causes is education,” said Windsor Rotary President Scott Bailey. “The goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support literacy. We support education for all children, as well as literacy for children and adults.”
The program encourages parents to read 1,000 books before kindergarten, breaking it into manageable levels with multiple achievement milestones. Funding from the Windsor Rotary Club and District 5440 provided for the literacy-centered milestone prizes, as well as a celebration for program finishers.
Since the program was launched, 298 babies, toddlers, and preschoolers have registered for 1000 Books Before Kindergarten. More than 64,200 books have been read so far, and 28 kids have completed the ultimate goal of 1,000 books before kindergarten.
“Community partnerships are extremely important in expanding the services and programs we offer citizens in our library district,” said Library Director Ann Kling. “Without this grant from Rotary we would not have been able to launch the 1000 Books program.”
For more information on 1000 Books Before Kindergarten, email Miss Andrea, or stop into the Windsor-Severance Library or Bookmobile.
Kids who read 1000 books celebrated at an event last September. Performer Beth Epley sang and told guests 1000 Tales.