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Tumwater Blvd. SW - Tumwater, WA 98501
Reference & Information line: 704-INFO (360-704-4636) in Olympia area or toll-free 1-800-562-6022.
TRL Web site: http://www.trlib.org
| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
February 23, 2006 |
Media Contacts: Leanne Ingle, Communications Specialist, (360) 704-4508, or Ellen Duffy, Youth Services Coordinator, (360) 704-4576.
Library’s read-aloud program offers family fun, boosts reading skill
All this March, the Timberland Regional Library (TRL)
Family Read-Aloud Month
initiative will be encouraging family reading fun and early literacy. In
partnership with the South Sound, Twin Harbors and Lewis County Reading
Foundations, Timberland is encouraging family members and childcare providers to
join in program activities by reading aloud with children every day, in every
room of their homes. The program is open to all families and childcare groups in
Thurston, Mason, Grays Harbor, Lewis, and Pacific counties.
Making your house a read-aloud house
Families and childcare groups can pick up a free Family Read-Aloud House activity kit at any of the 27 Timberland libraries starting March 1. Kits include:
A large poster of a house with cutaway views of the rooms to color
Stickers to place on the poster as the family reads together in rooms of their own home
A new list of books that are especially good for reading aloud
A reading log in English and Spanish
A prize drawing entry form
According to parents and kids who participated in previous Family Read-Aloud Month programs, reading together in unusual areas in the house and at different times of the day is a huge part of the fun.
Read-Aloud Resources
Timberland library users have access to tens of thousands of children's books as well as materials with read-aloud ideas and techniques. Library staff can suggest books and provide tips on sharing books with children. Booklists and information about the benefits of reading to children from a very young age are available on the TRL web site’s educational and entertaining "TimberKids" section at www.trlib.org/kids.htm.
Reading aloud is the key
"Reading aloud together is one of the most important gifts that a parent can give a child," said Ellen Duffy, TRL Youth Services Coordinator. Decades of research show that young children who are read to daily will perform better in school, in all areas of learning. "The early years set the stage for later learning…the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children" stated the U.S. Commission on Reading in the report, Becoming a Nation of Readers.
"We know that children learn best when they’re having fun and interacting with their parents and other caring adults. Family Read-Aloud Month offers the opportunity to have fun together and to create shared memories while providing children with skills they need for learning to read, and reading well. Reading together nurtures family relationships and sends children a strong positive message about the value of reading," said Duffy.
Prizes
Five families, one in each of the five Timberland library counties, will win a suitcase packed full of books. Prizes will be drawn on April 10 and sent to the winners’ local libraries.
"Family Read-Aloud Month includes chances to win prizes, but the biggest prize of all is the lifelong educational and emotional benefits of families having a great time reading together," said Duffy.
Local sponsors supporting Family Read Aloud Month are Scholastic Books, Target Stores, Capital Auto Mall, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, TCTV, The Olympian, and radio stations KGY, KXXO, KFMY-The Eagle and KDDS-LaGranD, a Spanish station.
For more information about Family Read-Aloud Month, people can contact their local Timberland library or visit the web site www.trlib.org
Some local Family Read-Aloud Month programs
In addition to ongoing family-friendly story time programs at most Timberland libraries, many libraries and two other venues will present special Family Read-Aloud Month programs during March. Below are highlights from the five TRL counties:
Thurston County
Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 1530 Black Lake Blvd, SW, Olympia
Saturday, March 4, 11 a.m. GIANTS! Story Time and Read-Aloud House sign-up.
KGY Radio
Sundays, February 26 and March 12, 19, and 26, 7:10 p.m. Radio Read-Aloud with storyteller Rebecca Hom sharing original five-minute stories for families on KGY Radio, AM 1240.
Lacey Timberland Library, (360) 491-3860
March 1-31, Dr. Seuss’ Birthday Celebration from, for all ages. Love Dr. Seuss’s rascally Cat in the Hat? Enter a drawing and you may take home a talking cat character.
Olympia Timberland Library, (360) 352-0595
March 11, 18 and 25, 10 a.m.-noon, PAWS to Read. Find out how children in grades three, four and five can experience reading success and fun by reading to a canine friend. Families are invited to meet registered Delta Society Pet Partner reading education assistance dogs and their handlers. Advance registration is required.
March 25, 2-3 p.m., GIANTS! Family Day at the Library. Discover the world of giants in story. The South Sound Reading Foundation will give a free book to each child in attendance. Advance registration is required.
Tenino Timberland Library, (360) 264-2369
March 2, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss. Make your own "Cat in the Hat" hat. All month, read Dr. Seuss books and add your name and the title to a hat display.
Tumwater Timberland Library, (360) 943-7790
March 1-4, Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! Drop by the library for Dr. Seuss activity sheets, simple crafts, and Dr. Seuss books to check out. Also, take a guess at the guessing jar.
March 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., GIANTS! Family night at the Library Discover the world of giants in story. The South Sound Reading Foundation and Booker T. Bear will come by give a free book to each child in attendance. Advance registration is required.
March 22, 6:30-7:30 p.m., Take Me Out to the Ballgame Family Night at the Library. Celebrate the game of baseball with stories, games, craft activities, and refreshments all having to do with "America’s national pastime". Advance registration is required.
Yelm Timberland Library, (360) 458-3374
March 11, 1-2 p.m., GIANTS! Family Story Time. Discover the world of giants in story. The South Sound Reading Foundation will give a free book to each child in attendance.
Pacific County
Ilwaco Timberland Library, (360) 642-3908
March 16, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Family Day at the Library: GIANTS! Discover the world of giants in story – how tall are they, what’s their shoe size, what are their favorite giant games, and most importantly, what’s for lunch?
Naselle Timberland Library, (360) 484-3877
March 17, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Family Day at the Library: GIANTS! Discover the world of giants in story – how tall are they, what’s their shoe size, what are their favorite giant games, and most importantly, what’s for lunch?
Ocean Park Timberland Library, (360) 665-4184
March 8, 3:30-4:15 p.m., After School Crafts and Stories for school-age children. Join Ms. Carney for seasonal poems, stories and crafts. All materials provided.
Raymond Timberland Library, (360) 942-2408
March 26, 2-4 p.m., Family Day at the Library: Camping! Discover the world of the great outdoors – family camping in story! Hear stories, sing around the campfire, find out if the bear really goes over the mountain and enjoy a game or two of animal toss.
Mason County
Shelton Timberland Library (William G. Reed Public Library), (360) 426-1362
March 2, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Family Read-Aloud Month Kickoff from for children ages 10 & younger. Drop by for a craft to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Seuss. The South Sound Reading Foundation will be at the library from 4 to 7 p.m. to give each child 10 and younger a free book.
March 7, 14, 21, 28, 10:30-11 a.m., Family Story Time for children age 6 & younger and their parents or caregivers.
Lewis County
Centralia Timberland Library, (360) 736-0183
March 1-15, Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss and Guessing Jar. When you visit the library, help create a very, very, VERY, tall Cat in the Hat hat. (Hint: the more you read, the taller the hat.) Also, guess how many fish are in the guessing jar and win them all.
March 9, 7-8 p.m., Family Program: GIANTS! for age 3 and up and their families. Discover the world of giants in story, games and crafts.
March 30, 7-8 p.m., Family Program: Camping, for age 3 and up and their families. Discover the world of the great outdoors—at the library! Listen to stories, sing around the campfire, find out if the bear really goes over the mountain, and enjoy a game or two of bear toss.
Chehalis Timberland Library, (360) 748-3301
March 2, 4-5 p.m., Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss! for families. Celebrate the birthday of the Dr. Seuss by reading stories, doing activities, making a craft. And yes, there will be birthday cake!
Mountain View Timberland Library (Randle), (360) 497-2665
March 2, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss. Join in a birthday party for Dr. Seuss.
Grays Harbor County
Aberdeen Timberland Library, (360) 533-2360
March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, 10:30-11 a.m., Story Time for Families. Join in programs of colorful books, rhymes, music and activities—all valuable tools for learning to read.
March 19, 2-4 p.m., Family Day at the Library: Camping! Discover the great outdoors—at the library! Cozy up and listen to stories, sing around the campfire, find out if the bear really goes over the mountain and enjoy a game or two of bear toss.
Elma Timberland Library, (360) 482-3737
March 6, 13, 20, 27, 6-8 p.m., Read-aloud Readathon. Join in as the Elma Timberland Library Board hosts a read-aloud marathon each week in March. Volunteers may take a turn reading for 15 minutes from selected titles. Prize drawings will be held each week.
Montesano Timberland Library (W.H. Abel Memorial Library), (360) 249-4211
March 31, 1-2 p.m., Family Day at the Library: GIANTS! Discover the world of giants in story, games and crafts.
Oakville Timberland Library, (360) 273-5305
March 9, 6-7 p.m., Family Night at the Library: Camping. Discover the great outdoors—at the library! Cozy up and listen to stories, sing around the campfire, find out if the bear really goes over the mountain and enjoy a game or two of bear toss.
Timberland Regional Library serves the information, reading and lifelong learning needs of the Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston county public at 27 community libraries and 5 cooperative library centers. The library system is funded by local property taxes. For information on any subject, the public can telephone Timberland’s Central Reference Service librarians at 704-INFO (704-4636) in the Olympia area or 1-800-562-6022, toll-free, from all other areas. Or they can "Ask a Librarian" online at
www.trlib.org.Revised 02/27/06
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Timberland Regional Library serves Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston counties in Western Washington State.