Richland One celebrates National Library Week and Reading Is Fundamental

Richland School District One will kick off its annual observance of National Library Week and mark its 32nd anniversary as a multi-site partner with Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) on Monday, April 19 from 7 a.m.-11 a.m. at Bolden Stadium and the Challenger Learning Center, 2600 Barhamville Rd. Students, parents and community supporters will join the district's 27 participating RIF schools to "Soar with Reading" in a fun-filled literacy celebration highlighted by rides in the RE/MAX Realty Hot Air Balloon.

Featured events include tethered hot air balloon rides (weather permitting), rocket launches, military aircraft displays, flight simulations and demonstrations by Civil Air Patrol and AFJROTC units.

"Celebrations such as these help to underscore the importance of reading and literacy for students of all ages. They form the very foundation of a student's future success," said Ida Thompson, District RIF Coordinator. "We are very fortunate to have both quality libraries and the RIF program to help students and parents develop reading skills and confidence through the enjoyment of quality literature."

First sponsored in 1958, National Library Week is a national observance sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) and libraries across the country each April. It is a time to celebrate the contributions of our nation's libraries and librarians and to promote library use and support. All types of libraries - school, public, academic and special - participate. Richland One provides school library media centers and certified school library media specialists in all schools to ensure that students and staff have ready access to information in both print and electronic formats. Each school is sponsoring special events throughout the week to celebrate the freedoms afforded to readers through quality libraries and library services

Nearly 13,000 Richland One students in 27 schools benefit from the district's Reading Is Fundamental program. Through special events called distributions, students are able to select books of their choice to begin building their personal libraries at home.

Richland One's Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) project is one of the largest in the nation and has distinguished itself as an outstanding multi-site partner as evidenced by a number of recent awards and recognitions. For the past three consecutive years, a district school has been named state champions in RIF's National Reading Challenge; this fall a district sixth grader was one of ten national winners in the National RIF Writing Contest; the Richland One RIF program is the featured program on the RIF website for March and April, and Ida Thompson, the district's RIF Coordinator, was named last week as the Southeast RIF Volunteer of the Year.

Founded in 1966, RIF is the nation's oldest and largest non-profit literacy organization, serving millions of young people annually. RIF helps children become strong, enthusiastic readers by giving them access to books they choose and keep, engaging them in creative activities that promote reading, and involving parents and community volunteers in children's reading and learning. RIF draws on both federal support and the support of schools, communities and volunteers to raise funds for project activities. Selected book vendors provide special discounts to RIF projects, enabling the newest and best literature to be purchased for children and older readers at no cost to them or their families. RIF operates through a national, grassroots network of 400,000 volunteers at more than 20,000 sites, which include schools, libraries, community centers, child-care centers, hospitals, migrant worker camps, Head Start and Even Start programs, homeless shelters, and detention centers.