RAPID CITY, SD — The 1,000 Pounds Before Kindergarten program is designed to help children in the community prepare for school and build a child-parent/guardian bond.
Rapid City Public Library
Rapid City Public Library
The program also aims to have children read or be read 1,000 books before entering kindergarten to meet their early education goals and help them become lifelong learners.
Parents can grab a tracking chart from the library and check off milestones and earn rewards along the way.
“Reading 1,000 books seems like an unattainable goal, but if you read a book a night with your child, that’s 365 in a year, which equals 730 books in two years, and then you reach 1,095 books in three years. reading, so it’s definitely an achievable goal,” said Aly Albert, events coordinator for the Rapid City Public Library.
Albert says any type of book will do and it is beneficial to start reading to children from newborns.
“Children simply hear these words read to them, which triggers the early literacy process in their minds with mimicry and also increases their vocabulary, so that as they begin to speak, their vocabulary will be higher and they will be ready for more reading once they are able to reach that level on their own.
September also kicks off library card sign-up month. Anyone living in Rapid City or Pennington County is encouraged to register or renew their card and find out what they have to offer and enter to win a Kindle Paperwhite.
The Friends of the Library provided the library card registration prices.
“It’s really, you know, kind of a start to school and back to school – we like to remind people that now is a great time to get their card or renew their card and really continue their learning and education. throughout life,” said Terri Davis, director of the Rapid City Public Library.
Davis goes on to say that the Sturgis library card holder can also borrow books from RCPL. A library card is valid for two years before it needs to be renewed. The Drive – Thru option is also available at RCPL. Everyone 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 like that, but we have databases, we have employment forms, we have legal forms, we have research that we can do for you – we have events and activities, we have early education, we have lifelong learning, you name it – it just goes on and on and on.
There are also thousands of downloads available on the Overdrive app.