About the library > News Releases > 2007 > Multnomah County Library receives Ready to Read Grant
Multnomah County Library receives Ready to Read Grant
January 3, 2007
Contact:
- Renea Arnold, Early Childhood Resources, 503.988.5458
- Penny Hummel, Public Relations, 503.988.5498
PORTLAND, OR – Multnomah County Library has received a $92,179 grant to improve library services to young children. The Ready to Read Grant program was established by the 1993 Oregon Legislature and is administered by the Oregon State Library.
Multnomah County Library will use the grant to fund Early Childhood Resources, a program that serves children pre-birth to kindergarten and their families and caregivers. Through outreach programs, ECR works closely with the early childhood community to foster the literacy skills of Multnomah County's youngest citizens.
Since its inception, the Ready to Read Grant has been used across Oregon to purchase children's library materials, hire staff to provide library programs, bring library services and materials to at-risk children, and provide children's computer equipment in libraries. The Ready to Read Grant was established to assist local libraries in helping achieve the Oregon Benchmarks for childhood learning and development.
State Librarian Jim Scheppke noted that since the Ready to Read Grant program began, library services to children have nearly doubled. "This program is really helping children develop early literacy skills, begin school ready to learn, and develop a lifelong love of reading," Scheppke said.