New Tools For Early Literacy

Recognizing that literacy opens the door to a lifetime of learning, the Friends Board approved the purchase of two items on the “Library Wish List” during the September meeting. Both items, presented by CCLD Director Ron Shaw, will support the library’s early literacy initiatives and will cost around $7500.

The first, TumbleBooks (http://www.tumblebooks.com/), is an online collection of animated, talking picture books that promote literacy. Picture books have long been used to teach kids the joy of reading in a format they love. TumbleBooks are created by adding animation, sound, music, and narration to existing picture books in order to produce an electronic picture book which a child can read, or have read to them.

The TumbleBook Library collection will be available online from every computer in the libraries with Internet connection, or from home through a direct link on the library website.

The second purchase will be two Early Literacy Stations (ELS) targeted for kids, pre-K through 4th grade, and grows and changes as the child ages. Each ELS includes 50 educational software programs that cover seven curricular areas such as social studies, science and math. The website is http://www.awe-net.com/els.asp.

According to Ron, literacy is “the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. We want our kids to be knowledgeable and educated because we know this will enrich their experience of the world and expand their opportunities for success. And now, thanks to this generous support given by the Friends, our children will have that opportunity.”