Family Science Day at the Library
The Rochester Public Library (RPL), Rochester Preschool-Parent Program (RPPP) and Rochester Literacy Movement (RLM) have teamed up to host a series of Family Science Days in each quadrant of the city throughout the coming year. Using volunteer scientists from the community, Family Science Days teach caregivers how to use literacy and science at home. At the end of the event, each family receives a kit with science experiments to do together and a related book to share at home.
Successful pilots of the program were run at the Winton Branch and Maplewood Community Libraries. Between the two events, all 117 children, 46 adults, and 10 volunteers who participated reported having had a positive experience. The next Family Science Day will be held at the Sully Branch Library in the new Ryan Center in October. Currently, the program depends on the hard work and in-kind donations from the RPL and the RPPP. Additional support in the form of volunteers and funding for the expanded program is currently being sought for the 2009-2010 programs.
Breakfast and Books at the Lincoln Branch Library
Thanks to the efforts of the AmeriCorps Vista member assigned to the Lincoln Library, 130 children (ages 2-15) and 25 adults enjoyed Saturday Morning Breakfast and Books program offered to Wilson Commencement Park residents during the month of July. Foodlink provided a light breakfast to the families who attended. Each event had a special theme that included a book and a craft. With the help of eight volunteers and parent participation, the Toy Library was opened and children were able to get their first library card. A volunteer from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) was able to provide a child identification fingerprinting service for families that attended the program on July 25.
