COMMUNITY News:
The Los Alamos Juvenile Justice Advisory Board (JJAB) Family Resource Specialists and Mesa Public Library children’s librarians are hosting a community playdate for children ages newborn to 5-years-old.
This drop-in event 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, in the Youth Services rooms at Mesa Public Library. The community playdate is being held to kick-off two early childhood literacy programs – Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and 1000 Books Before Kindergarten.
In addition to offering the opportunity to sign up for the literacy programs, this event also features play, movement, music and art activities for the children, and social time for adults. Snacks will be provided.
Other local agencies participating in the community playdate include: Family Strengths Network, First Born Program of Los Alamos, Nature Center and the Many Mothers’ Baby Boxes program.
There is no cost for participation.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a program that promotes the love of reading by giving free, age-appropriate books to children from birth until their fifth birthday. A parent registers a child for this program at any time up until the child turns five; there is no cost to the family. Each month the child receives in the mail a carefully selected book. If a child starts the program at birth, she will have a library of 60 books by the time she is ready for kindergarten. The only criteria for participation are age and zip code. All children under five who live in the 87544 or 87547 zip code areas are eligible.
Parents and caregivers can register their children online at www.imaginationlibrary.com or by completing an Imagination Library registration form. There are no restrictions to the number of age eligible children in a family that can be registered. Registration forms will be available at the community playdate event and at other community sites. Children registering for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at the community playdate will receive their first book at this kick-off. The Los Alamos affiliate of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is financially supported by the Los Alamos JJAB.
The 1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a library program that encourages families and caregivers to read at least 1,000 books with their children before the children start kindergarten. Children and parents are provided with logs and they keep track of the number of books that are read. As milestones are reached, children go to the library to receive incentives along the way. A wonderful feature of this program is that books that are re-read are counted in the log. Thus, each reading of a favorite book will be counted in the tally.
1000 Books Before Kindergarten is a great way to start building a lifelong love of books and reading and help children and caregivers grow closer through sharing books. Los Alamos County Library staff look forward to celebrating this program all year long.
Mesa Public Library is at 2400 Central Ave., in Los Alamos. For additional information about the community playdate or literacy programs call Cindy Koehler at 865.223.9362.
