[Libs-Or] Library Awarded Grant to Enhance Storytimes Throughout Oregon

[LONG Shannon E]

December 2, 2005

For immediate release

Contact:	Renea Arnold, Early Childhood Resources, 503.988.5458
		Penny Hummel, Public Relations Manager, 503.988.5498 

Library news and information: www.multcolib.org/news
<file:///G:\PubRel\News%20Releases\News%20-%202005\www.multcolib.org\new
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LIBRARY AWARDED GRANT TO ENHANCE STORYTIMES THROUGHOUT OREGON

There's good news for Oregon parents and children who love library
storytimes - soon, they'll be even better! Multnomah County Library has
been awarded a $29,540 grant to enhance statewide storytime training
from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services through the
Library Services and Technology Act, administered by Oregon State
Library.  
	The LSTA grant will fund the creation of a video that will train
Oregon librarians in creative ways to involve parents and caregivers in
their child's literacy development. Since research indicates that
parents are the best teachers when it comes to getting children ready to
learn to read, the project uses storytimes as a way to communicate with
parents about how to help their children succeed as readers and
learners.  
	"We're very excited to receive this grant and to be able to
develop a new tool that can be used throughout the state to help young
children develop into strong and confident readers," said Director of
Libraries Molly Raphael. "Kids who read, succeed - in school and in
life."  
	A national leader in early childhood literacy, Multnomah County
Library offers a variety of outreach programs that assist parents and
caregivers in nurturing learning in babies and toddlers.  A key
component of these efforts is encouraging parents to read aloud to
children long before they reach kindergarten, when brain development is
at its most critical stage.  Easy tips for parents on how to incorporate
books and reading into a young child's life can be found on the
library's Early Childhood Resources Web pages at
www.multcolib.org/birthtosix.
The grant is from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services
through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by Oregon
State Library. The Institute of Museum and Library Services provides
funds to state libraries through the Library Services and Technology Act
of 1996, using a population-based formula. For more information about
the federal IMLS/LSTA grants, please visit the IMLS Web site at
www.imls.gov <http://www.imls.gov >  or contact the Oregon State
Library.  
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Shannon Long
Multnomah County Library Public Relations
205 NE Russell St., Portland, OR 97212
503.988.6128    shannonl at multcolib.org

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