Child Care Council Inc. is introducing a new program to give away free books to children of all ages.
Through Books 4 Fun, a collaborative program with the Rochester Public Library, the Council will provide free, gently used books to children in four ways:
– Council staff will distribute the books to legally exempt, family child care homes, school-age child care programs and child care centers during site visits and inspections
– Providers visiting Child Care Council can take a free book for each child in their care
– Children visiting Council offices can take a free book home. In the Rochester office (595 Blossom Road, Suite 120), the books are located in the front office reception area, in the consultation/computer room, and in the Kid Zone in the Repurpose and More Store.
– Council employees also will distribute free books at various community events
The Rochester Public Library is donating books for the program, and it has donated more than 2,000 books to date. Each book includes a Books 4 Fun program sticker with a space for each child to write his or her name as the owner of the book. The Council also is accepting donations of new or gently used children’s books at all its offices.
“Books 4 Fun is at the heart of what Child Care Council is all about – promoting early childhood education and preparing children for the future,” said Barbara-Ann Mattle, Child Care Council CEO. “This collaboration with the Rochester Public Library, focused primarily on children in the city of Rochester, will help ensure that more kids are reading books.”
“Giving books to children and their parents helps parents understand that their children love books at a very young age,” said Shelley Matthews, Rochester Literacy Coordinator, Book Angel Project, Rochester Public Library. “Reading is important to all children’s futures. The Book Angel Project has brought more than two million books into the homes of Rochester’s children.”
The Books 4 Fun program is kicking off first in Rochester and Monroe County, and it will be extended to the Council’s Livingston County (Lakeville) and Wayne County (Newark) branch offices over time. This program builds off the Council’s existing My First Library, which was established in 2001 with financial support from Council volunteer and supporter Joan Frazier. Frazier has been instrumental in working with Council staff to plan and coordinate the Books 4 Fun program as well.
