The library is a focal point for family literacy because as an information and service organization, it offers literacy materials, instruction, and support services. Beginning with Books is a nationally-recognized family literacy program founded in 1984 and affiliated with The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. It promotes family literacy through a variety of programs including The Gift Book Program, Read Together, Read-Aloud Parent Clubs, and Project Beacon. Parents are encouraged to read to their children every day and are invited to visit the library for other free books. This program reaches over 6,000 families a year.
Parents also learn about reading to children.
Children receive three gift books during the year, and both parents and children are assisted in library usage. Parents meet weekly, receive free books, and are invited to take out library cards and borrow books. Clubs have been established for Head Start parents, residents of public housing, and kindergarten Chapter I parents. Parents Reading Project A community-based program like Head Start can play an active role in addressing family literacy due to its fine reputation in the communities it serves, its ability to recruit, support, and retain adult learners, its operating principles of parent involvement and empowerment, its commitment to working with families, and its holistic approach to child development. Head Starts Family Literacy Initiative was developed with the goal of offering a family literacy program to every Head Start grantee.