Getting children ready to enter Kindergarten is the objective of a grant recently made available through the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State, which is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
The successful grant, written by Beth Jungmeyer of Mid-Mo Grant Right, was offered at an opportune time in light of current plans to convert the E.M. Burger Foundation Distance Learning Lab at the library into a permanent Early Literacy Activity Center and Story time room. The library and Moniteau County Early Head Start are forming a partnership to provide a place for parents and caregivers to bring children from birth to 5 years old for creative play. Children learn how to express themselves, the meaning of words, and other early literacy skills through play. Tawnya Pace, Moniteau County Head Start Team Leader stated, "The goal of the Center is to provide early intervention that gives parents and caregivers a place to bring infants, toddlers, and preschool children to develop pre-reading skills that will promote reading success at school.
The grant award of $6,659 will provide nine weeks of programing for 212 Infant, Toddler, and Preschool children that are currently in daycare in California. We anticipate 30 additional Infants, Toddlers and Preschool children to participate when programs are provided for the public each Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. during the summer reading program.
Two requirements of the grant are to provide parents and caregivers with a set of "Racing-to-Read" cards that offer guidance on how to best implement the five skills needed before their child enters Kindergarten. The other requirement is to give two books to each child in the program to keep for their home library. The grant provides funds for craft and program supplies, and for collection development of the library's Board books and Easy Picture books, which are suitable for preschool children.
The grant also pays for two temporary positions to implement nine weeks of programming. Tawnya Clause will serve as the Program Leader and an Emily Ziehmer will be her Assistant.
The Moniteau County Library will continue to look for ways to improve library services as we strive to provide the county with a successful 21st century library.