Huntsville Public Library


7 Minerva St.
Huntsville, Ontario   P1H 1W4
705-789-5232
library@huntsvillelibrary.net

 Picture of the Huntsville Public Library, red brick facade, single story with ramp, steps and flower and shrubbery planters at the entrance

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    Books for Newborns

    "Next to hugging your child, reading aloud is probably the
    longest lasting experience that you can put into your child's life.
    You will savour it long after they have grown up."
    Jim Trelease, The New Read-Aloud Handbook (Penguin, 1989)
     

    Young Child In Red Reaching For A Book On A Bookshelf

    How We Did It

      In preparing the package, we made contact with others in the community that were focusing on the needs of children and their parents.  Public health nurses made arrangements for volunteers to attend prenatal classes where we were able explain the developmental stages of reading.  This provided the opportunity for the parents-to-be to explore the types of books available for young children.

      The cornerstone of the program is the personal delivery of the Books for Newborns package to the infants and their parents.

      The Books for Newborns Committee has operated for almost 12 years, with volunteers personally delivering packages to babies and talking to their families about reading.  We have found that this personal contact provides a positive link between home and school.

      Feedback from families that have received packages for a second or third child has shown us the value of the project.  From many anecdotal reports by appreciative parents, we know that they have found reading to be a rewarding experience for the whole family.

    Marketing Books for Newborns

    We have spread the message about the benefits of reading to children in other ways:
     

    • displays in  malls and libraries
    • newspaper articles
    • television human interest coverage
    • Storytime Program (reading stories on local cable TV)
    • visits with young mothers in the Great Beginnings program


    Help from the Community

    Books for Newborns has benefited from invaluable cooperation and support over the years from
     

    • hospitals (especially maternity ward and maternity ward nurses)
    • public health nurses
    • personnel from government programs
    • media
    • books stores
    • service groups
    • public libraries
    • teachers
    • professional organizations

    We couldn't have done it without their help!

    The Books for Newborns Muskoka Committee would like to acknowledge the generous contribution made by the late Mrs. Barbara Mitchell (nee Weston). The support is continuing through the Barbara Mitchell Memorial Fund.

    We are grateful for the continued support from the W. Garfield Weston Foundation in the form of a special grant that enables the Books For Newborns Committee to extend the program.