News Release:
Oregon State Ready to Read Grant Awarded to Albany Public Library

The Albany Public Library has received a $7,808 grant to improve public library services to children.

The Ready to Read Grant was established by the 1993 Oregon Legislature and is administered by the Oregon State Library to assist local libraries in helping to achieve the Oregon Benchmarks for childhood learning and development.  The Ready to Read Grant focuses on early childhood literacy and Summer Reading Program support.

Albany Public Library Grant funds will be used to:

·         fund materials to support Linn-Benton Community College Family Resources and Education Department “Living and Learning with Your Baby” classes;

·         distribute early childhood literacy and library information to home-based child care providers throughout Albany;

·         fund Summer Reading Program events and publications, including four special preschool programs, and supplies for weekly drop-in art events;

·         purchase furnishings, games, and educational toys for the children’s rooms at the Main and Carnegie Libraries; and

·         to refresh the circulating puppet collection.

Ready to Read Grant funds have 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 to provide children’s computer equipment in libraries.

For more information regarding this news release, contact:
Scott Keeney, Children’s Librarian, 917-7591

For general information regarding the City of Albany, contact:
Marilyn Smith
Public Information Officer
(541) 917-7507