'Book and Bib' program starts at OhioHealth Marion

MARION - Children born at OhioHealth Marion General Hospital and their families will receive materials to start kids on the path of learning to read, thanks to local literacy initiative Let’s Read 20.

Let’s Read 20 — along with the Marion Community Foundation, Marion Public Library, Marion Rotary Club, and OhioHealth — has developed a Book and Bib program to provide families of newborns with gift bags full of resources that foster early childhood literacy. 

Each bag contains informational pieces that give new parents concrete steps they can take to start down the road to literacy. They will also receive a copy of a classic children’s board book and a bib with the words “Read To Me” printed on it.

Also included in the bag is an invitation for parents to sign the Let’s Read 20 Promise, which allows community members to pledge to read to a child for 20 minutes each day.  Anyone can make the promise at letsread20.org.

The program encourages parents to register for a "My First Library Card" from the Marion Public Library. This unique library card does not accrue late fees for checked out materials and allows families to borrow up to 30 items from the Kids Area at the library. 

While some might wonder why babies would need a library card, the library is adamant about pushing the message that “it’s never too early to get your library card.” The library and Let’s Read 20 said that successful readers begin picking up the fundamental skills of reading far before they start learning their ABCs. Simple things like holding a book the right way up or knowing how to turn the pages are some of the basic skills that must be learned at some point; and the earlier that happens, the better off the child will be in their reading development, according to the Marion Public Library.

Local efforts have focused on reaching kids before they start school; now the focus has shifted reaching kids even before they leave the maternity ward.