Press Release
Melissa Rothermel
702.837.8996
Imagine Marketing
Henderson, Nevada
Henderson Libraries’ Bright Beginnings program sheds light on at-home story time
Program to unveil new book collection Nov. 16 during Children’s Book Week.
HENDERSON, Nev. - While libraries across the country have hosted story time sessions for decades, Henderson Libraries, through the Bright Beginnings literacy program, has begun teaching parents and caregivers the methods needed to build early literacy skills in children. Research over the past decade has shown a direct correlation between future success in schools and early literacy activities such as story-time-style reading sessions with preschool-aged children.
Henderson Libraries established the Bright Beginnings program in early 2007 to take reading to the next level by creating an interactive environment with parents, children and books. Many of the skills learned in Bright Beginnings library story time sessions can be taken by parents into the home to enhance a child’s associations with books and literacy. Through the Bright Beginnings program, we’re able to continue in our efforts to build a ‘community of readers’ by teaching parents and other caregivers early childhood literacy skills,” said Tom Fay, executive director of Henderson Libraries.
“When children are born, they don’t come with an instruction manual,” said Evelyn Walkowicz, Outreach Manager and Bright Beginnings project leader from Henderson Libraries. “Each child has their own way in which they learn. Some parents may require some help in their parenting role when it comes to how and what to read to their children to best progress their early development and reading skills.”
Recently, through the support of grant funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services administered by the Nevada State Library and Archives, Henderson Libraries established a Bright Beginnings collection of children’s books and audio CDs available for checkout.
Henderson Libraries will unveil the collection, which will be maintained with support from
United Way of Southern Nevada, Success by 6, during Children’s Book Week at an unveiling ceremony on Friday, Nov. 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the CDI Head Start Learning Center in Henderson, 180 Westminster Way .During the event, parents will have a chance to learn more about the brand new collection and how Bright Beginnings can improve at-home reading sessions with their children.
Bright Beginnings book collections are new, high-quality titles specifically geared toward children ranging in age from birth to age 8. In addition, the collection boasts books on parenting.
Henderson Libraries will make the Bright Beginnings book collections available in up to a dozen locations throughout Henderson. Already collections have been established at SAFE House, Family to Family Connections and Henderson Allied Community Advocates (HACA).
For more information about the Bright Beginnings program, Henderson Libraries or any of its other programs or services, visit mypubliclibrary.com or call 702-492-7252
Established in 1943 as a single library in Downtown Henderson, Henderson Libraries now offers four locations throughout Henderson and cooperates with the other public libraries in Southern Nevada, the Nevada System of Higher Education, the Clark County School District and all other libraries around the state to provide quality service for Nevada’s residents.