Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, January 6, 2016 A7 Help your child Grow, Dream, Succeed with a Ready 2 Learn card “The more you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss “There is no substitute for books in the life of a child.” – May Ellen Chase “A book is a gift you can open again and again.” – Garrison Keillor “One of the greatest gifts adults can give – to their offspring and to their society – is to read to children.” – Carl Sagan These quotes are just a few of many by adults that recognize the importance of reading to children and making sure that children have access to books. What better way to ensure our children have unlimited access to a wide variety of books than for them to have their own library card? Did you know that your child can receive that card beginning at birth? Through the Ready 2 Learn program at the Grant County Library, children 0 through 5 can be issued their own special card. This card is just like a regular library card but with a few extra perks. 1. It helps families save for their child’s education. Oregon College Savings Plan is a sponsor of Ready 2 Learn and, if your child uses their Ready 2 Learn card at least once a month, they are entered into a drawing for one of 3 monthly prizes of a $1000 deposit into your child’s Oregon College Savings Plan fund. 2. Ready 2 Learn offers library programs that focus on one skill a month to help children develop the skills they need to be successful in kindergarten. Programs at the Grant County Library include weekly story and craft time, monthly family story times in the evenings that incorporate that month’s skill, and quarterly sessions for parents that include ideas on how to promote the monthly skills at home and McCosker used his Ready 2 Learn card in examples of other early literacy activities. Grahm November and won this Eric Carle gift basket. 3. In addition to programs in the library, parents have access to monthly newsletters, ideas to help your child learn at home, and updates on current promotions. In addition to the Oregon College Savings Plan monthly $1000 drawing, children who use their Ready 2 Learn card to check out a book or attend a library program anytime during a month will also be entered into a drawing for one of 10 gift baskets. These baskets are valued at over $125 and include a wonderful variety of themed books, activities and learning toys to support and encourage early literacy. Beginning in January, Ready 2 Learn cardholders who check out a total of 100 books will be given an age appropriate basket of books and early literacy learning toys. If your child does not yet have their very own Ready 2 Learn card, all you need to do to take advantage of these amazing opportunities and to support their early learning, is to head to the library and request the free card. You can also ask for information about opening an Oregon College Savings Plan account for your child. www.ready2learnoregon.org www.facebook.com/readytolearnoregon www.pinterest.com/ready2learnorg This project is funded by a Library Services & Technology Act grant managed through the Oregon State Library. Additional funds provided by the Oregon College Savings Plan and the Greater Oregon Behavioral Health, Inc. 03252