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Community Corner

Library Celebrates Young Graduates

Since its launch 14 months ago, 436 children have enrolled in the 1,001 Books Before Kindergarten program hosted by Algonquin Area Public Library District (AAPLD). The program’s second graduating class will be honored Monday, April 14, 2014 (6:30pm at the Eastgate Branch) with a festive ceremony, diploma, prizes and the addition of their photos to the Library’s Wall of Stars.

“What these young kids have accomplished is so valuable. They listen and hear language, and by kindergarten, most of them are already readers,” said Youth Services Librarian, Tara Kazda. “Between parental encouragement, library storytime and the 1,001 Books program, preschoolers have the building blocks in place for literacy. They soak it up like a sponge.”

Children can begin The 1,001 Books Before Kindergarten program anytime throughout the year. Interested parents must be an AAPLD cardholder, and the child should not yet be a kindergarten student. Children earn prizes at every 100 books milestone.

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The program itself quickly surpassed Kazda’s initial milestone. “Our goal was 100 children enrolled during the first year,” Kazda said. “We had 164 sign-up in the first week!” The total enrollment to date is more than four times greater than the initial projections, and the Library welcomes more preschoolers to participate.

AAPLD’s Youth Services team will happily suggest titles for parents to read with a child, but the guiding principle is that the books should be ones the child enjoys; even if a child wants to hear the same story several times. Each time it’s read, it counts toward the 1,001 books goal. Reading just three books a day for one year will allow a child to exceed the total required.

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AAPLD honors its second class of graduates Monday, April 14 at 6:30pm (Eastgate Branch, 115 Eastgate Drive, Algonquin). To enroll a child in the 1,001 Books Before Kindergarten program, please call 847.458.6060.





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