Idaho Commission for Libraries

Providing information, training, technical assistance, and resources for Idaho libraries and their community partners.

Our vision is for all parents and caregivers to nurture their children's early literacy skills and for all children to develop as independent readers and become lifelong learners.

. . . a project of the Idaho Commission for Libraries

Governor Otter Presents Mini-Grant Check in Hayden

Governor Otter presents Read to Me mini-grant check in Hayden"WOW! We had a great visit from the Governor!” reports Karen Yother, Youth Services Director at the Kootenai-Shoshone Area Libraries.  Governor Otter and Idaho First Lady Lori Otter are hoping to present Read to Me mini-grant checks in person to as many of the 30 library sites as possible. The first stop was the Hayden Branch of the Kootenai-Shoshone Area Libraries.

The Hayden branch will be using their grant funds to partner with second grade teachers at Atlas Elementary to implement the “Read with Your Hero” program for second grade students. This year-long program will enlist the help of local firemen, emergency response personnel, and/or police officers, who will visit the classroom on a weekly basis and read with the students.  A deposit collection of books, pre-selected by the teacher and librarian, will be available for the students and “heroes” to read.  Three times per year the students will take a field trip to the Hayden Library, where the local heroes will meet them for a program, including an interactive program with the emergency vehicles, a puppet show, and summer reading promotion in the spring.  Students and their parents will be invited to a special event at the Hayden Library for Idaho Family Reading Week.  Each student will receive a free library card in the fall when the program begins. Grant funds will be used for field trip transportation and educational materials and supplies.

“We put the call out to our supporters and they came! We had the teachers and principal from Atlas Elementary, as well as the Superintendent of Couer d’Alene School District 271; the firemen who are participating in the program and the Fire Chief, our Board Members, Foundation members and the Mayor all came. I also contacted parents and we had about 25 children come to join the fun.  It was a fabulous -and quick-program, but so worth it,” Karen said.

The Governor is visit the Lewiston City Library today (July 17th). 

Project Information and Resources

Find out about our goals, activities, staff and project resources, including free reading support materials , and educational displays. Find more marketing materials on our marketing page.

Outreach Programs

The Read to Me program sponsors three outreach programs for Idaho libraries. They include:

Information for Librarians and Educators

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Other Links

Links to some of the best web sites with information on early literacy.