A Delaware youth literacy program is expanding to all three First State counties.
My Very Own Library is putting books in the hands of young Delawareans. Shannon Boehmer is the project director.
“We found that some of the students in the communities this program supports don’t have access to books, and in some cases are sadly too afraid to visit their local libraries," Boehmer said.
The United Way of Delaware helped bring the New Jersey-based program to the First State last year to help move the needle in higher need communities around reading.
It started out in just a few New Castle County school districts, but this year is being expanded across the state.
Over the course of the school year, 5,900 First State students will receive 59,000 books – or 10 books each. And the students themselves will have the opportunity to pick most of them.
United Way of Delaware President Michelle Taylor says the initiative is about more than just books.
“How do we make sure our young people are meeting their developmental milestones, are in quality early learning settings, are getting the mental and behavioral health services, have shelter, housing, all those things they need to thrive," Taylor said.
The program focuses on elementary school children with low reading scores. Officials point to 3rd grade performance as an early indicator of a student’s high school achievement level.
My Very Own Library is also planning more than 40 different literacy events in Delaware this year.
Those include things like book fairs and author visits.
