First Book of Clallam County announced last week that its efforts have put more than 3,500 new books into seven literacy programs that serve Clallam County children in need.

The programs are Peninsula College Family Literacy Program, Parenting Matters, First Step, Lower Elwha Head Start, Lutheran Community Services Parentline, Forks Early Childhood and Parenting and the Forks Elementary Title I and bilingual programs.

Each child receives three to six books during the year, enabling them to start home libraries.

These book grants were made possible through local fundraising efforts, grants from the Albert Haller Foundation and Benjamin N. Phillips Memorial Fund, as well as private donations and contributions from the Beta Nu Chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Port Angeles Wednesday Reading Club, First Federal and the Retired School Employees of Clallam County.

First Book of Clallam County, which has distributed more than 30,000 books since 1997, is part of First Book's national network of volunteer-led advisory boards that provide new books to children in need in communities across the country.

For more information or to make a donation to help children in need, see www.firstbook.org or call Marsha Omdal at 681-2254.