Promoting literacy is a primary value of libraries everywhere. The North Olympic Library System maintains a strong commitment to providing early literacy services and programming for children, as well as literacy education and enrichment opportunities for all ages.

A few recent implemented, literacy-related library resources merit this months’ spotlight: Storytime to Go kits, Laubach Way to Reading materials and a new Spanish language page on the library website.

Story time to Go Kits

Did you know you can take a library Storytime to Go kit home? Interacting, reading and playing with children before they enter school plays a critical role in their development. But who doesn’t need a little inspiration? Storytime to Go kits are a great way to engage the young persons in your life about the day’s events, play and sing with them, and rhyme with rhythm.

To get started, search the library catalog for “Storytime to Go” and browse the bundle of fun books, puppets, CDs (and sometimes felt story boards!) that are available for checkout.

There are 20 variously themed kits that explore everything from robots and pirates to cats, school, monsters and more.

Sí, hablamos Español!

For anyone for whom Spanish is their first language (or would like to practice their Spanish), the library website has a new Spanish language page with information about library services and policies. Begin at www.nols.org and select “Español” from the “Services” menu.

This new page was created to provide better access to library services and resources, and to improve the library’s communication with Spanish-speaking patrons. General questions also may be emailed by using a special link on the page, with a reply in Spanish, of course.

Laubach Way to Read

A 2013 U.S. Department of Education and National Institute of Literacy study showed that 14 percent of adults in the U.S. cannot read, 21 percent of adults in the U.S. read below a fifth-grade level and 19 percent of high school graduates cannot read at all. For older readers who may not have reached a reading level with which they are satisfied, NOLS offers materials from the Laubach Way to Reading.

For more than 30 years, the Laubach technique has used phonics-based practice manuals to help adults with limited literacy skills grow into confident and passionate readers.

To find this important collection, search the library catalog using the terms “Laubach Way” or “adult reading education.”

And more …

You can find all these resources and more at www.nols.org. Have questions? Contact us! To reach the Sequim Library, call 683-1161 or stop in for a visit at 630 N. Sequim Ave.

Mary Coté is a customer service specialist at Sequim and Port Angeles branch libraries.