Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Altadena Library Holds ‘Read for the Record’ Event on Thursday

The Altadena Library District is joining the nationwide Read for the Record literacy awareness event on Thursday, October 22nd, a global campaign which generates public support for high-quality early learning by mobilizing millions of children and adults to take part in what is said to be the world’s largest shared reading experience.

During the event, readers throughout the country will try to set a new world record for the most number of people reading the same book on the same day.

Read for the Record is now on its 10th year and has been organized by Jumpstart, an organization that conducts a national supplemental program that leverages the power of community and adult-child relationships to build the key language and literacy skills children need to take on the world.

On Thursday, anyone can take part in any of the multiple readings of “Not Norman,” by Kelly Bennett at the Altadena Main Library, and join the record-setting event. Readings will take place every hour on the hour from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Reading at the Bob Lucas Branch Library will be from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Participating children will receive a free copy of the book for them to keep. All participants are encouraged to register to read online, through Jumpstart’s website, www.jstart.org/campaigns/read-for-the-record. Those who won’t be at the library readings may also read the book online.

Since 1993, Jumpstart has trained 36,000 college students and community volunteers to transform the lives of 76,000 preschool children nationwide. These “Jumpstart Corps” members help children cultivate a life-long love for language and learning and ultimately provide a foundation for future success.

In Southern California, Jumpstart says 63 percent of children do not read at grade level by third grade; by the eleventh grade, 62 percent remain behind.