Library Services
Family Literacy & Education Programs
For information about the following programs, please call 594-5600.
- Books While You Wait
- Collections of discarded and donated books for children and teens are placed in waiting rooms of social service and government agencies. The goal is to encourage reading as a recreational activity. Agency staff reports that the atmosphere in their waiting rooms is quieter, calmer and happier. Parents and children are reading together; older siblings are reading to younger siblings.
- Motheread / Fatheread
- A family literacy program designed for adults who want to improve both their reading and parenting skills. Participants meet in small groups with trained discussion leaders to read and discuss children's books and to practice methods of reading to children. Parents are given books to start building home libraries. Library staff takes the program to incarcerated mothers and fathers in Pima County.
- Ready to Read
- We teach parents and caregivers about early brain development and stress the importance of exposing babies and young children to language, reading and books. The program provides information on child development, how to read with babies and young children and ready to read skills. Promotes the development of the language and reading skills that are the foundation for success in school and a lifetime of learning.
- Newborn Book Program
- Newborns are connecting with Pima County Public Library! Every newborn at University Medical Center, Tucson Medical Center, St. Josephs Hospital and Northwest Hospital receives a library card application, a library information sheet, and a Storytime bookmark (listing the dates, times and locations of all library Storytimes) upon discharge. Approximately 1,000 newborns each month are introduced to the library by this program.