The Friends of the Fairhope Public Library are hoping that a new project, Raise A Reader, will encourage reading at a very young age.

“The project is modeled after Books for Babies, sponsored by FOLUSA (Friends of Libraries USA), the national organization with which we are affiliated,” said Brenda Huchingson, president of the board of the Fairhope Friends of the Library. “The project has multiple goals: to encourage parents to read to their children and help their children develop reading habits, to promote literacy, to provide information about the services and facilities of the Children’s section of the Fairhope library, and to stimulate the public’s use of the new library.”

To achieve these goals, the Friends are providing “Raise A Reader” packets that will be presented to parents of newborns at Thomas Hospital. Friends’ members Roberta Long, Barbara Bayer, and Marilyn Holder chair the project.

“We are so pleased to do this,” said Long. “Each packet contains a hand-sewn ‘burp pad’ made by local sewing groups, a board book, information about children’s programs at the library and suggestions for developing reading skills for children, plus information about the library with an application for a library card. We want everyone to know that it’s never too early to read to your child.”

Tamara Dean, Children’s Librarian, agreed. “Reading to a young child, even a newborn, helps in many ways. There have been numerous studies that indicate that reading to a child helps with speaking and listening skills, and it helps children develop what we hope will be a lifelong enjoyment of reading.”

There are approximately 90 babies born each month at the hospital, said Vicki Whitman, R.N., director of the Birth Center at Thomas Hospital. “We think this is a great project. I know the parents will love it. It’s a wonderful gift for Thomas Hospital and our new parents, and we’re very appreciative of the Friends of the Fairhope Library for doing this.”

With so many newborns arriving every month, the Friends could use a little help, said Huchingson. “We have several hundred packets ready to go, thanks to help from a number of different sewing groups who made the burp pads for us. But of course, we always need more. We provide the materials, and any individual or group who would like to help with the sewing is welcomed and most appreciated.”

Cash donations to assist the Friends with the purchase of material for the burp pads and the board books are also accepted. If you or your organization would like to volunteer to help sew burp pads for the Raise A Reader project or make other contributions to the project, contact Roberta Long at 929-1909.