Baby Bookstart program begins at library

Warwick - Baby Bookstart, an innovative program which encourages parents to read to their very young children to help them become lifelong readers and active library users, has begun at the Albert Wisner Public Library. The program is available to local families in cooperation with the Herbert Kania Pediatric Group in Warwick. When parents bring their child to Kania Pediatrics for the 10th month check-up, they will receive a free book and a “prescription” to be filled at their local library. The library will fill that “prescription” with another book and a bag full of information about library resources for the entire family. The family will also be encouraged to sign up for library cards. Research in child development shows that pre-school children who are exposed to plenty of language (books and conversation) tend to do better at school. Reading also has been shown to be an effective way for parents and caregivers to bond with a young child. The staff at Albert Wisner Public Library fills Baby Bookstart “prescriptions” at the front desk. Baby Bookstart has been made possible countywide by grants received through state Sen. Thomas Morahan; the program is spearheaded by the Junior League of Orange County, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County and libraries of the Ramapo Catskill Library System.