Each year, all BCPS kindergartners have the opportunity to visit Willard Library's downtown location to receive their first library cards and have some fun learning about the library while they're at it! This week kicked off the kindergarten visits as students from Fremont International Academy took a bus ride downtown for a fun day at the library.
Willard Library's Tynisha Dungey, who serves as the director of youth services and community engagement, said the kindergarten visits have been happening for years, and are a great way for students to learn about all the amazing resources available for free to them and their families through their local library.
"We read stories, give them a tour of the children's area and media department, talk about our digital resources, and by the end, our goal is to get them excited to check out books," Dungey said.
In addition to traditional books, Dungey said the library features many other resources to get children excited about learning and reading. "We offer Easy Readers that make it easy for families to find books that are at the appropriate reading level for each child, but then we also have launch pad tablets that offer pre-loaded educational games that families can check out, computer stations for children to use, and vox books that include digital audiobooks for children to listen to so they can read along or enjoy having a story read to them," she said.
According to BCPS Coordinator of District Literacy Services June Parker, reading is the district's North Star. "This year, we are really increasing our focus on not only getting our students the support they need in the classroom," she said, "but also getting our community to buy in and help us create a community-wide culture of reading."
Parker added, "Willard Library is one of our closest and longest-standing community partners and we are thankful to have them as such an incredible resource for our young learners."
Parents, partners, and other neighborhood supporters who would like to support the BCPS reading initiative can get involved by participating in Get Caught Reading Month this October by snapping a photo of yourself reading and posting it to social media with the hashtag #BearcatsRead, or by volunteering as a Reading Buddy for an elementary student. Learn more at battlecreekpublicschools.org/read
