RAPID CITY, S.D. — The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program is designed to support the community’s children with school readiness and child-parent/caregiver bond.
The program also aims to have children read or be read 1,000 books before entering Kindergarten to achieve early education goals and help them grow into lifelong learners.
Parents can pick up a tracking chart at the library and check off milestones and earn rewards along the way.
“Reading 1,000 books seems like an unachievable goal, but if you read one book per night with your child, that is 365 in a year, which equates to 730 books in two years and then you hit 1,095 books in three years of reading, so it’s really an achievable goal,” said Aly Albert, Rapid City Public Library Events Coordinator.
Albert says any type of book will do and starting to read to children as early as newborns is beneficial.
“Children just hearing those words being read to them, that kicks off the early literacy process in their mind with mimicry and increasing their vocabulary as well, so as they start to speak, their vocabulary will be higher and they will be ready for more reading once they are able to achieve that level by themselves.”
September also kicks off Library Card Sign-up Month. Anyone living in Rapid City or Pennington County is encouraged to sign up or renew their card and explore what they have to offer and get entered to win a Kindle Paperwhite.
The Friends of the Library have provided the Library Card Sign-up prizes.
“It’s really, you know, kind of the start of school and getting back into education sort of thing- we like to remind people that this is a great time to get their card or renew their card and really continue their lifelong learning and education,” said Terri Davis, the Director of the Rapid City Public Library.
Davis goes on to say that Sturgis Library Card Holder may also checkout books from the RCPL. A library card is good for two years before you must renew it. The Drive – Thru option is also available at the RCPL. Anyone entering the RCPL must wear a face covering.
Davis says the Library has countless resources to offer people.
“Obviously we have books and magazines and DVDs that kind of thing, but we have databases, we have job forms, we have legal forms, we have research we can do for you – we have events and activities, we have early education, we have lifelong learning, you name it – it keeps going on and on and on.”
There are also thousands of downloads available on the Overdrive App.
Looking for more news and information? NewsCenter1 Media Group has you covered go to NC1.TV today for all of your Western South Dakota and Wyoming news today.
