Program encourages parents, caregivers to read to their children
Staff Report
The Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries are resuming their 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program with all-new reading logs and fun prizes.
1,000 Books Before Kindergarten is an early literacy program popular at libraries across the country. It encourages parents and caregivers to read to their children, which helps prepare them for school readiness and lifelong success by building a strong foundation for later reading and writing.
At the Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries, the program is open to all families whose children are below kindergarten age. To get started, participants can stop by the library to pick up their first reading log. Parents can mark off a circle for each book they read to their child and can mark off a circle for each time they read the same book as repetition is an important part of learning to read. When finished, parents and their children can bring the completed log back to the library to receive a prize and their next reading log.
Once all 10 logs (and 1,000 books) are completed, participants will be contacted with an invitation to the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten graduation party. While parties and other in-person programming have not yet resumed at the Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries, information will be saved to celebrate the child’s accomplishment as soon as programming resumes.
The friendly librarians at the Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries are excited to be offering this program again to support literacy in the community. Logs are available in English and Spanish at the Goleta Valley Library, Goleta Valley Library Bookvan, Buellton Library, and Solvang Library. Those interested can stop by their local branch Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and ask for their first log at the front desk. To pick up a reading log at the Goleta Valley Library Bookvan, check the libraries’ online calendar for hours and locations.
Program materials and prizes at Goleta Valley Library are sponsored by the Friends of the Goleta Valley Library. To learn more or to become a Friend, visit https://www.friendsofthegoletavalleylibrary.org/.
Prizes at Solvang Library are sponsored by the Friends of the Library of Santa Ynez Valley. To learn more or become a Friend, go to: https://friendssyvlibrary.org/.
