These books will directly benefit parents and children in the Johnson City and Unicoi County communities. A significant donation was also made to the Resource Library by the Johnson City Public Library whose director, Mark Thomas, said the public library received permission to re-direct unexpended federal grant funds under the Library Services and Technology Act. The grant was in the category of Services for Children Living in Poverty and assisted with transporting children from local housing centers to the city's library for the summer reading programs. He added, Our frugality and cost savings when administering this program left some unspent funds so we sought permission to use the money in another area of need. When the Tennessee State Library and Archives approved the change of use our youth services librarian, Betty Cobb, and acquisitions librarian, Esther Pawlowicz, selected and ordered 120 read-along kits that include cassette tapes and books.
Individuals can read or listen to the text, or do a combination of both at the same time.
These kits have proven to be excellent tools for beginning and reluctant readers. Local Motheread facilitators are Judy Hart, Carolyn Minton and Flora Craig. Our instructors choose books from an approved curriculum of over 100 multicultural children's books, Hart said. Parents read the book aloud together, then participate in discussions and activities that relate the book's story to their own lives. They are also offered activities and discussion guidelines so they can share the book, its themes and their stories with their children.