Mt. Airy Kiwanis Donates Early Literacy Center to Local Library
by Bill Butts

Mt. Airy Kiwanis has enjoyed a long and close relationship with the Mt. Airy Public Library, from being instrumental in its establishment to helping move the library and all of its contents to a more spacious location on two different occasions. More recently, through opportunities identified by its Young Children Priority One committee, the club's support has enabled the Library to expand its services and programs, especially with regard to local young children. Two examples include the club funding the Library's Children's Summer Reading Program, and this Spring, donating a Early Literacy Center to the facility. The Center provides a self-contained (and semi-portable) location that is organized to provide topic-centered learning materials and activities that children can use on their own, but are best utilized by parents interacting with their young children. The photos above show the Mt. Airy Early Literacy Center, initially stocked with a learning module on animals, and a mother and her two small children giving the Center a trial run. The Early Literacy Center is proving to be a valuable addition to the Mt. Airy Public Library, and could be an opportunity for your local libraries as well. For more information, contact: Beth Jacobs, YCPO Chairperson / Mt. Airy Kiwanis, jimjacobs2@verizon.net, 301-829-0639.