The Denver Public Library’s Read Aloud program held a rewarding celebration in early June to celebrate 35 years of the program. The event also honored its dedicated volunteers and recognized the great impact they have on the lives of students who attend Head Start, part of Denver Public Schools’ Early Education Department, and other early childhood education centers across Denver. DPL’s Read Aloud has become a fixture among schools and the community, providing children with the opportunity to experience the love of books and the joy of reading and develop pre-reading skills for children across Denver.
The Read Aloud volunteer appreciation dinner was held at the Carla Madison Recreation Center in Denver. Library staff, educators and volunteers came together to celebrate and bond over their dedication to reading to the preschoolers around Denver.
Since 1988, Read Aloud, a program of the library’s Early Learning Development (ELD) department works to create positive and meaningful relationships between preschoolers and books, even before they have the ability to fully read their first pages. As much as we understand reading is important in Pre K-12 education, pre-reading can be just as critical as a way to further increase a child’s success in school. DPL’s ELD Senior Librarian, Sarah McNeil explains the impact of their work in classrooms, “The vast majority of teachers whose classes participate in the Read Aloud program report that their students are excited for and engage during Read Aloud storytimes each week” McNeil continues, “Additionally they report that, as a result of the program, their students are more interested in books, more regularly identify print, have increased their vocabulary, and can describe events more readily.”
Read Aloud participants engage in storytelling sessions led by volunteers who set out to connect and share their own excitement for reading. Volunteers selflessly dedicate their time and effort to visit Head Start centers, and early childhood education centers, as well as virtually, throughout the Denver community, to foster a joy of learning and reading for children. Read Aloud in its 35th year currently visits 255 different classrooms across Denver. Seventy five volunteers and staff read to children in these classrooms.
The program’s impact reaches beyond literacy skills. Research has consistently shown that early exposure to books and interactive reading experiences significantly contribute to children’s cognitive and socio-emotional development. For lower-income families who often face barriers to education resources, the Read Aloud program is an invaluable resource in assisting in creating equity in preparing children for success in grade school and their lives. Read Aloud, with the hard work of its volunteers, is one of the amazing ways the library continues to meet the needs and community where they are.