Friends of the Niobrara County Library, Inc. and Holiday Inn Express Hotel Join Forces with Scholastic to Donate Books to Local Children’s Literacy Program
Lusk, WY (08/16/07) ? More than a third of all U.S. fourth graders read below the “basic” level on standardized reading tests, according to the U.S. Department of Education. To help improve children’s literacy rates, the Holiday Inn Express? Hotel and Suites in Douglas has joined a brand-wide partnership with Reading Is Fundamental, Inc. (RIF), the oldest and largest nonprofit children’s literacy organization in the U.S.
To kick-off the partnership at the local level, the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites in Douglas, WY and Scholastic have distributed a collection of over 300 books to the Friends of the Niobrara County Library, Inc. that will be given to local children.
According to Debbie Sturman, Director of the Niobrara County Library hundreds of children have participated in RIF programs since beginning the program in 2000. This additional book distribution will put even more books into children’s hands as children will be able to choose multiple books at the upcoming August 29 program. Three RIF programs will also be held in early 2008.
“Rattlesnake Jake” will be in Lusk to present a special hour-long program to the children at 6:30 p.m. on the library lawn. The program is suitable for children of all ages. The Friends of the Library will be serving root beer floats at the Back-to-School kick-off and children will select their own books at the end of the program.
This book donation is in conjunction with a larger effort by RIF, Holiday Inn Express, and Scholastic, the global children’s publishing, education and media company, and a long-time supporter of RIF. They will distribute 150,000 books to RIF programs across the country.
For more information about this program contact the Niobrara County Library at 334-3490.