The Children’s Department of Wilkes County Public Library received support for an early literacy program that focuses on the sounds and recognition of alphabet letters. Every Monday at 11:00 a.m., Elizabeth Lee, Children’s Librarian, interacts on Facebook with an average of 160+ parents and young viewers to share a ‘Monday Mayhem’ arts-and-crafts letter activity. There have been 43 programs since the series began in November 2020 with an average of 2500+ on-demand views.
With support from the Flettie Alifair Church Literacy Fund, WCPL will be able to purchase ABC books as give-aways to families of young children. The books will be used as an incentive for program participation and encourage library usage. Some of the money will also be used to buy books with an ABC connection for the library’s permanent circulating collection as well.
The impact of these programs and related books will help parents bond with their children as they learn, play, and read together. Children will have increased success with reading skills once they start school, if they are encouraged to learn their letters early through play and activity. With support from this grant, many children will be able to have books to keep and read at home as they practice identifying letters and the sounds they make