[R2R-OR] FYI: What other libraries are doing for 1, 000 Books Before Kindergarten

[Katie Anderson]

Hi! I noticed several of you plan to use your 2013-2014 R2R Grant to fund 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten at your libraries. Below is an email with information about what another library is doing. That library gathered information on what other libraries around the county are doing and posted it online here: http://tinytipsforlibraryfun.blogspot.com/2013/01/1000-books-before-kindergarten-is-still.html. Hopefully this information will be helpful as you plan your 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten programs.





Katie Anderson, Library Development Services

* Youth Services Consultant * Oregon Center for the Book Coordinator *

Oregon State Library, 250 Winter St. NE, Salem, OR 97301

katie.anderson at state.or.us, 503-378-2528





-----Original Message-----
From: Marge Loch-Wouters [mailto:M.Loch-Wouters at lacrosse.lib.wi.us]
Sent: Monday, December 09, 2013 10:04 AM
To: Kate Schiavi; 'alsc-l at ala.org'
Subject: [alsc-l] RE: 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten



We have done quite a bit of work not just with our program, but with gathering info on programs around the country. A one stop spot for links (including research to use when writing funding grants) is here at my Tiny Tips for Library Fun blog:  http://tinytipsforlibraryfun.blogspot.com/2013/01/1000-books-before-kindergarten-is-still.html. Since our 1000 Books is for ages 1-5, this fall we added Baby Book Bees for the under-1 set! You can read about here at my colleague Brooke Rasche's blog, Reading with Red: http://readingwithred.blogspot.com/2013/11/baby-book-bees.html



What partners/sponsors do you work with to promote & fund the program?

We keep our schools/ daycares informed but fund the program independently through fundraising letter, memorial money and donations (we raised about $7K for our 51K community). We still have over half that amount left 2.5 years into the program.  We would recommend working with Rotary, Kiwanis, Target (or other big box stores with Literacy grants) and Community Foundations as well. This is an extremely fundable project.



Approximately how many children complete the program in a year?

Our completion mirrors exactly our SLP completion rates - approximately 30-33% of families that begin make it all the way until 1000 books. However, it is an open-ended program that only ends when a child finished their fifth year (even when he/she is in K) so families sometimes return to the fun after an absence of a year. We currently have over 800 kids in the program.



Do you have any evidence or research that shows the program has made an impact on incoming kindergarteners?

See the links above for research. http://tinytipsforlibraryfun.blogspot.com/2013/01/1000-books-before-kindergarten-is-still.html



What incentives do you provide throughout the course of the program?

We started with a lot of doo-dads but quickly discovered that the kids completely adore a sticker to take home for every 100 level completed and a colored dot sticker with their name on that they add each level to a giant garden mural.  We have made some changes over the 3 years of the program - we give a bookbag with logo at sign-up (figuring that families will use it and it advertises the program), a small fingerpuppet or plush star at halfway mark and all graduates receive a free paperback book of their choice when they complete their program.  This year we will hold our first graduation party and give out graduation certificates.



We have nothing but positives to say about this program.  Hope you (and everybody out there NOT doing this) consider this incredible early literacy support program!



Marge Loch-Wouters

M.Loch-Wouters at lacrosse.lib.wi.us<mailto:M.Loch-Wouters at lacrosse.lib.wi.us>

Youth Services Manager

La Crosse (WI) Public Library
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