Growing Readers Together launches in Grand County Library District. The library program, sparked by a grant from the Temple Hoyne Buell Foundation, provides early literacy activities and resources for family, friends, and neighbors who care for children under the age of six.

“We encourage all Coloradans to offer babies, toddlers, and preschoolers language and literacy-rich activities in their daily life. Research shows that this prepares children for success in school and in life,” said Growing Readers Together Coordinator, Joyce Johnson. “The public library is the perfect place to get started, expand what they are doing, and do so in fun and engaging ways.”

Caregivers are encouraged to bring the children in their care to library story times and other literacy events. Starting in mid-January Granby Library will be hosting 10am Saturday story time.  “As a service employed community, we recognize that many parents juggle their schedules in order to work and provide childcare every day of the week,” comments Heidi McNinch, Granby Librarian and Resource Specialist. “A weekend story time will provide a much requested opportunity to the children in Grand County.”  Weekend caregivers can also meet others, gain new early literacy skills, and acquire fun early literacy activities and materials for young children to enjoy in their childcare home.

The library is collaborating with Grand Beginnings to reach informal and unlicensed care providers. With only 40% available child care slots for the children in Grand County, many of our children are in care at home or with friends, families, and neighbors.

Grand County Library District is one of 22 libraries in Colorado to participate in this grant project. The Colorado State Library is coordinating training and offering technical assistance. The result of this grant will be a greater number of caregivers of young children in our community focusing on early literacy and Grand County Library being a model for other Colorado libraries.

Growing Readers Together is one of several early literacy activities offered by Grand County Library District.   For those interested in this and other programs, go to gcld.org.

Polly Gallagher is the Director of Public Services for Grand County Library District