JEFFERSON COUNTY LIBRARY FOUNDATION

LITERACY AND READING THE ANNUAL SUMMER READING PROGRAM PROMOTES READING FOR CHILDREN AND TEENS THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER MONTHS SO THEY DON'T LOSE THEIR LITERACY SKILLS - SOMETHING KNOWN IN EDUCATIONAL CIRCLES AS THE "SUMMER SLIDE". THE PROGRAM ALSO ENCOURAGES PARENTS AND OTHER ADULTS TO PARTICIPATE AND SERVE AS READING ROLE MODELS. SCHOOLS ARE ALSO PART OF THE PROGRAM, AND JCLF PROVIDES CASH PRIZES TO FIVE JEFFCO SCHOOLS (RANGING FROM ELEMENTARY TO HIGH SCHOOL) FOR THE STUDENT POPULATION THAT READS THE MOST NUMBER OF MINUTES FURING THE EIGHT-WEEK PROGRAM. EARLY CHILDHOOD LITERACY JCLF HELPS SUPPORT VARIOUS PROGRAMS UNDER THIS UMBRELLA, INCLUDING: RAISE A READER, 1,000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN AND BABIES FIRST BOOKS. RAISE A READER PROVIDES A SERIES OF LIBRARY-SPONSORED EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES THAT ENCOURAGE PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO SING, WRITE, READ, PLAY AND TALK - ACTIVITIES THAT ENGAGE AND ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO GAIN ESSENTIAL EARLY LITERACY SKILLS. 1,000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN IS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN AGES 0-5, AND ONE THAT PROMOTES PRE-READING ABILITIES (BY HAVING FAMILIES READ TOGETHER) AND ASSISTS PARENTS/CAREGIVERS IN SELECTING APPROPRIATE READING MATERIALS AND IN SERVING AS THEIR CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER. BABIES FIRST BOOKS IS AN EARLY LITERACY PROGRAM AIMED AT NEW AND FIRST-TIME PARENT IN JEFFCO. FREE BOOKS OF NURSERY RHYMES (IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH) ARE DISTRIBUTED VIA HOSPITALS, WIC, HEALTH CLINICS, ETC., WITH A GOAL TO ENCOURAGE READING TO INFANTS AS A WAY TO DEVELOP A CHILD'S COMPREHENSION OF LANGUAGE AND A WAY TO PROMOTE THE SPECIAL BOND BETWEEN PARENTS AND BABIES.