Encouraging Reading and Literacy
Posted on 03. Jan, 2012 by Thatcher Wine in Blog, Book Resources
The more people read in the world, the better place the world can become. Literacy = freedom, equality, expression, independence and so much more. Any activity or organization that encourages reading and literacy gets my support and that of Juniper Books. Here are a few organizations that are doing great work in this area:
Playing in the Juniper Books Book Fort
1. Getting Books to Kids Who Need and Want Them in America: Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
In 1996, Dolly Parton launched an exciting new effort, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, to benefit the children of her home county in East Tennessee, USA. Dolly’s vision was to foster a love of reading among her county’s preschool children and their families by providing them with the gift of a specially selected book each month. By mailing high quality, age-appropriate books directly to their homes, she wanted children to be excited about books and to feel the magic that books can create. Moreover, she could insure that every child would have books, regardless of their family’s income.
In local news (to us in Boulder, Colorado), the local program of the Imagination Library is looking for direct funding and donations to continue their excellent work. See:
http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_19649372
http://www.unitedwayfoothills.org/
2. Using Reading in Schools as a Opportunity to Make Social Change: Reading to End Racism.
The program aims to eliminate racism through interactive personal and literary programs that educate and empower youth. Several of our friends and employees work with the organization and are very dedicated to using books, storytelling and discussion to encourage positive change in the world. Change comes from individuals and small organizations making a difference one child at a time and Reading to End Racism embodies that potential.
Reading to End Racism
3. Building Libraries Around the World: Room to Read
From their website:
“We envision a world in which all children can pursue a quality education, reach their full potential and contribute to their community and the world.
Room to Read
We work in collaboration with communities and local governments in developing countries to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children, and support girls to complete secondary school with the life skills they’ll need to succeed in school and beyond.
4. Sending Books to Africa Where Literacy and Education Could Change the Future: Books for Africa
From their website:
“The mission of Books For Africa is to end the book famine in Africa. With your help, we will help create a culture of literacy and provide the tools of empowerment to the next generation of parents, teachers, and leaders in Africa.
“Books donated by publishers, schools, libraries, individuals, and organizations are sorted and packed by volunteers who carefully choose books that are age and subject appropriate. We send good books, enough books for a whole class to use.
“They are shipped in sea containers paid for by contributions from people like you. It costs about 50 cents to send a book from the United States to Africa. Since 1988, Books For Africa has shipped more than 24 million books to 46 African countries. They are on once-empty library shelves, in classrooms in rural schools, and in the hands of children who have never before held a book. Each book will be read over and over again. When the books arrive, they go to those who need them most: children who are hungry to read, hungry to learn, hungry to explore the world in ways that only books make possible.”
So, read to your kids, support your local bookstore, donate unwanted books to your local library (for their fundraising sale) and support the organizations above and others like them.
Feel free to contact us with suggestions of other organizations that are doing good work in literacy and book-related programs.
Thatcher
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