News
Midland Library Debuts Summer ‘Black Storytime’ Program
Free weekly event helps build early literacy skills children need to be ready for kindergarten
S
tide that lifts all boats, not one boat.”
Graybill adds that the most important aspect of Black Sto-
rytimes is that they are led by some of Midland Library’s
most loved staff, and they will have a unique flavor that
reflects the experiences, language and traditions of African
and African American people.
“Although Black Storytimes are geared toward Black
families with children from 0 to kindergarten, the library
expects to see diverse families attending these storytimes,”
he said.
The library is also reaching out to parents who have
adopted African or African-American children, multiracial
families, and “people who want their children to experience
the full range of Portland’s unique cultures.”
ummertime and books go together like picnics and
fresh air – and at Midland library in East Portland, the
youth librarians are planning a fresh approach to their
usual “storytime.”
Part of Summer Reading 2012, Black Storytime is held
Saturday mornings from 11:30 a.m. to noon, and features
African and African American-focused materials – all with
the goal of bringing more Black families into the library’s
doors.
Open to all families, this special half hour features
dynamic youth librarian Kirby McCurtis leading kids up to
age 6 in books and stories, songs, and movement activities.
“Black storytime helps build early literacy skills all chil-
Black Storytimes are led by
one of Midland Library’s most
loved staff, and they will have
a unique flavor that reflects the
experiences, language and
traditions of African and
African American people
dren need to be ready for kindergarten,” says Jeremy Gray-
bill of the Multnomah County Library. “These storytimes in
particular are designed as a fun and informative way to
experience African and African American culture at the
library.”
Graybill says the library has spent time building similar
programs for several communities served by the library, so
far including storytimes in Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese,
and English.
“In fact, last year we offered more than 4,200 storytimes
geared across our 19 library locations for the many faces,
cultures, heritages, backgrounds and needs of the children
of our area,” he says.
A CENTURY
The 100th year of Summer Reading runs through Aug.
31. To commemorate the 100th year of the program, the
Multnomah County Library has established a goal of
getting 100,000 children, ages 0 to 18, to participate.
Kirby McCurtis, youth librarian, is one of the most
loved staff at Midland Library.
Still, he says, Black storytimes are open to all audiences.
“I look forward to my own daughter attending these pro-
grams so that it may further her own appreciation and
knowledge of other cultures in her neighborhood,” he said.
Surveys show that African and African American families
use the library at a much lower rate than Whites and other
groups.
“Through investigation and analysis, we have found that
there are serious perceived barriers to a Black family com-
ing in to the library,” Graybill says. “The library is seen as
a place of benefit for others, but not to the same extent for
them.
“We believe it is our job to connect families with the rich-
ness that a lifetime of literacy can provide and that a rising
Given that more than 81,000 kids have already signed
up, thanks to help from local schools, and that last year’s
program achieved 98,000 participants, this goal is well
within reach.
Here’s how Summer Reading works: Kids sign up for the
program and receive a game board customized for their
age group. To progress on the game board, and win
prizes along the way, kids participate in such activities
as reading, being read to, listening to audio books, read-
ing aloud to others, writing a book review, drawing a pic-
ture about a book, and attending events at their
neighborhood library.
Everyone who signs up for Summer Reading is eligible
for one free ticket each to a Portland Timbers and a Trail
Blazers game (with the purchase of an adult ticket).
Game board finishers receive a commemorative Sum-
mer Reading T-shirt, and are entered into a grand prize
stay for a family of four at Great Wolf Lodge.
Find out more at your local library or www.multcolib.org.
July 11, 2012
The Portland Skanner Page 9