Born to Read
The Born to Read Activities booklet was created at the Olean Public Library as part of our efforts to promote reading and literacy activities for infants.
The Friends of the Library of Olean, NY, Inc. began a project in 1997 to distribute reading information to the parents of all infants born in the local hospital. They began by donating the Books for Babies packet sold by the Friends of Libraries USA, with local additions, to the hospital for distribution. The packets were then given to parents when they left the hospital with their new baby.
Included in the packet are letters from the Friends of the Library, Books for Babies Program Coordinator, and the Olean Public Library's Children's Librarian, congratulating the parents on the baby's birth, and the first activity from the Born to Read Activities booklet.
The letters discuss the importance of reading for intellectual development. They invite the families to use the library and its' resources, such as our board book and parent/teacher collections, and participate in activities for babies and families, including the library's Baby Honor Roll and lapsit story times for infants.
Parents are encouraged to come to the library with their first activity sheet and pick-up a personalized copy of the complete booklet. Upon completion of all twelve activities, the baby is honored with a book that is added to the children's collection in his or her name, and the baby's name and book title are displayed on the Born to Read Honor Roll located in the Baby and Me reading corner of the children's room.
In 1998, as a part of a New York State Parent and Child Grant received by the Olean Public Library, we began visiting prepared childbirth classes at the local hospital and medical groups. Library staff and volunteers give presentations on the importance of reading and language development in a child's first year. The Born to Read packets are distributed to the parents along with the book Read to Your Bunny. The booklet is shown and its use explained as part of this presentation.
We have experienced increased participation of approximately 300% in all our infant programming since the beginning of these visits. (Exact numbers are not readily available because turn-around time is 12 to 18 months.) Parents at these classes are generally less stressed before the birth of the baby and are eager and receptive to suggestions for enhancing their child's development.
We distribute only the first activity with the packet and ask parents to come to the library to receive their personalized booklet. This gives us a second contact with the parent and a chance to encourage them to complete the booklet and to use other library services.