Children and their parents in the fledgling Motheread/Fatheread literacy program through the Keystone Community Center’s Resource Library and the Unicoi County Library are the beneficiaries of a donation of books from Humanities Tennessee and over 100 read-along kits provided by the Johnson City Public Library.
The Keystone Community Center’s Resource Library was established in the fall 2000 as part of the Community Outreach Partnership Program (COPC) through East Tennessee State University. The library offers Families First participants and residents in local housing developments a range of award-wining literature for children and youth, career information, parenting and self-help resources.
“The Tennessee Department of Human Services has worked closely with the university’s COPC staff to develop comprehensive services for families receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF),” said Dr. Judith Hammond, program director, ETSU Families First. “Resources in the library complement various program components including Job Club, Technology Training, Family Services, Parenting Skills and Family Literacy.”
Nashville-based Humanities Tennessee is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to public education in the humanities. The program partners with libraries, government agencies and non-profits to develop Motheread/Fatheread classes in individual communities.
Founded in North Carolina over a decade ago, the Motheread/Fatheread program has been adopted in almost 20 state and two territories. The reading program’s goal is to increase literacy skills while improving family communication and promoting reading and story sharing in the home. Tennessee’s program is accepted as a Scholastic Literacy Partner, which means the program qualifies for special book prices as well as free books and other services.
Mary Ann Keefer of Humanities Tennessee was able to donate 80 books, five copies each of the first 16 titles in the multicultural class curriculum, to the Keystone Center’s Resource Library. She also presented the same books to Unicoi County Library Director Jane Garrett who heads that community’s Motheread/Fatheread program.
The book giveaway program was established with monies from a multi-state anti-trust settlement negotiated by state attorneys general with Toys R Us. The settlement stipulated the funds must be used to benefit children by providing them with toys, books or other educational materials.
Keefer said, “We’re delighted to be able to share this windfall with our partners across the state and thank Tennessee Attorney General Paul Summers for designating Motheread/Fatheread Tennessee as the recipient of these funds. These books will directly benefit parents and children in the Johnson City and Unicoi County communities.”
A significant donation was also made to the Resource Library by the Johnson City Public Library whose director, Mark Thomas, said the public library received permission to redirect unexpended federal grant funds under the Library Services and Technology Act. The grant was in the category of “Services for Children Living in Poverty” and assisted with transporting children from local housing centers to the city’s public library for the summer reading program.
He added, “Our frugality and cost savings when administrating this program left some unspent funds so we sought permission to use the funds in another area of need.
“When the Tennessee State Library and Archives approved the change of use our youth services librarian, Betty Cobb, and acquisitions librarian, Esther Pawlowicz, selected and ordered 120 read-along its that include cassette tapes and books. Individuals can read or listen to the text or to a combination of both at the same time.
The books donated to the resource library from Humanities Tennessee are not the only ones being given to Motheread/Fatheread through that agency. Humanities Tennessee also gives a free children’s book to every parent who graduates from the program. In Johnson City, the first adult classes in the literacy program begin Tuesday, Feb 6 at 2 p.m., in the Keystone Community Center, 603 Bert Street.

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