What is Ready to Read?

• A collaborative early literacy project
• Includes public libraries and Head Start agencies in Bastrop, Burnet, Hays and Williamson counties, all in Central Texas.
• Consists of three parts -LEARN, REACH & TEACH:
  • Public library staff LEARN to teach the three Every Child Ready to Read @ your library early literacy skills classes. Parents, caregivers and teachers LEARN early literacy tips to help their children get ready to read. 
  • Public library staff REACH out into the community - primarily with local Head Start and Early Head Start agencies
  • Public library staff TEACH the classes to parents, teachers and caregivers
• The grant uses Every Child Ready to Read @ your library, a Public Library Association/Association for Library Services to Children project
• Parents, caregivers and teachers learn how to prepare their children for success as readers
• The grant targets disadvantaged families through our partner agencies
• The project is sponsored by theCentral Texas Library System, Inc. and funded by the Texas State Library, the Institute for Museum and Library Services, and the Tocker Foundation.

Summary:  

Children’s Librarians and library staff from public libraries in Bastrop, Burnet, Hays and Williamson counties will provide early literacy classes to parents and caregivers at Early Head Start/Head Start sites and other locations in each community.  Parents will receive free children's books to keep, thanks to funding from the Tocker Foundation.  Libraries will also incorporate early literacy techniques in their storytimes.  Project activities will be based on the Every Child Ready to Read literacy program developed by the Public Library Association. 

Benefits to families:

• Develop parent knowledge of age appropriate literacy expectations for young children
• Increase access to free, age appropriate books and community resources

• Equip parents to help young children to become aware of and comfortable with books and language 

Benefits for Early Head Start/Head Start sites:

• Offer families opportunities to participate in family literacy services
• Increase access to age appropriate literacy materials
• Equip parents to promote the development of emergent literacy at home
• Expand partnerships with local libraries 

Benefits for public libraries:

• Develop an emergent literacy initiative in each community through Every Child Ready to Read information, training and storytimes
• Deepen community partnerships with Early Head Start/Head Start
• Increase library usage through outreach to potential new users
• Increase library staff knowledge of current early literacy research 
• Position the library as a vital early literacy resource for parents and caregivers

Benefits to communities:

• Stronger partnerships among family literacy agencies

• Ability to parlay participation in Ready to Read into other funding

• Improved early literacy skills among targeted needy families