Washington Library Initiates Children's Reading Program

Washington Library Initiates Children's Reading Program

Future Reflections Spring/ Summer1989, Vol. 8 No. 2
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WASHINGTON LIBRARY
INITIATES
CHILDREN'S READING PROGRAM
by Beth Eisenhood
Sixty-two young readers gobbled up 721 books in
the first children's summer reading program at
the Washington Library for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped in Seattle, Washington.
Taking advantage of Seattle Public Library's
summer reading club theme, "Put a Monster in
Its Place," staff created a reading club by mail
which began in June and ended August 31,1988.
Staff members "adopted" young patrons ranging
from three to eighteen years old so readers could
receive personal attention. Program information
went out to readers on staff-dramatized
tapes, in Braille, and in large print. The number
of books read by each club member was tallied
monthly; dinosaur prizes and puzzle pieces then
were mailed out based on numbers of books read.
The club's successful completion was celebrated
with a program by well-known folk singer Nancy
Raven, who shared her collection of folk instruments
and led the crowd in songs from many nations.
Names were drawn for three grand prizes
-a pair of walkie-talkies and two Walkman
radios--and twelve large dinosaur toys. Afterwards
the partygoers enjoyed dinosaur cookies
and browsed in the new children's reading area
recently created in the library lobby.
Every library department contributed to the success
of this program by calling and writing
children, keeping statistics, Brailling twin vision
books and other program materials, taping, mailing,
and helping with program details and
producing edible works of dinosaur art. Staff
agrees with Director Jan Ames that this should
be called the first annual reading program since plans are already under way to help readers have
monstrous fun again next summer.
NOTE: For more information about the summer
program at the Washington Library for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped, write to: Jan
Ames, Director, Washington Library for the Blind
and Physically Handicapped, 821 Lenora Street,
Seattle, Washington 98129. You may also call:
(206) 464-6930.
Have your child put on some old clothes and
let him or her begin. Finger painting doesn't
have to be messy. Put the finger paint on a cookie
sheet or tray and have your child paint right on
that. Or, let your child paint on smooth paper. If
the paint begins to dry, add a few drops of water.
Talk to your child about the colors and textures.
Ask questions such as, "How does the paint feel
-slippery, wet, smooth?"
Cleanup is easy. Just take the cookie sheet to
the sink and rinse it off, or wash the tabletop. The
soap in the homemade paint makes cleaning even
easier.