Literacy/Reading

Since its inception in 1966, Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) programs have prepared and motivated children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those who need them most -- underserved children from birth to age eight. Since 1975, RIF's Inexpensive Book Distribution program, which is authorized under the U.S.

On November 19, the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) released To Read or Not to Read: A Question of National Consequence, a new analysis of reading patterns in the U.S. The study, which is a follow-up to NEA's 2004 Reading at Risk, revealed recent declines in voluntary reading and test scores alike, trends NEA described as having "severe consequences for American society."

November marks two important events for booksellers and readers: Children's Book Week 2007, sponsored by the Children's Book Council, and Jewish Book Month, sponsored by the Jewish Book Council.

Page23, a one-year-old project of Changing Hands Bookstore in Tempe, Arizona, promotes reading among people who may reject traditional marketing approaches through specially selected title lists, displays, and other promotional materials.

One Shared World, a campaign to raise awareness of global poverty and generate dialogue about solutions, is reaching out to booksellers in the Book Sense marketing program.

From October 15 to 21, libraries, schools, and bookstores across America will celebrate Teen Read Week, now in its ninth year. A national literacy initiative aimed at teens, their parents, librarians, educators, booksellers, and other concerned adults, Teen Read Week is sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).

James Patterson, the bestselling author whose suspense novels have been described as keep-you-up-all-night page-turners, is once again awarding cash prizes to booksellers, educators, festival organizers, philanthropic groups, and others, who find effective ways to spread the excitement of books and promote reading.

On May 9, at Carnegie Hall in New York City, Dana Gioia, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), announced a new national reading program, The Big Read, designed to revitalize the role of reading in American public culture. NEA is launching The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).

Between October 16 and 22, libraries, schools, and bookstores across America will celebrate Teen Read Week, which is now in its eighth year. A national literacy initiative aimed at teens, their parents, librarians, educators, booksellers, and other concerned adults, Teen Read Week was developed by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to focus on the importance of teen recreational reading.

Reach Out and Read (ROR), the 16-year-old national pediatric literacy organization, has been putting millions of books into the hands, strollers, and even mouths, of babies and preschool children to help make reading a part of every healthy childhood.

By Jay Hochstedt of Changing Hands Bookstore

The Association of American Publishers (AAP) recently announced the release of their latest newsletter for Get Caught Reading, the Association of American Publisher's campaign to promote the joy of reading, now beginning its seventh year.

In early July, author James Patterson and Time Warner Book Group announced the debut of the James Patterson PageTurner Awards, annual cash prizes totaling $75,000, intended to single out and support the people, companies, schools, and other institutions that find original and effective ways to promote the excitement of books.

Authors interested in thanking literacy advocates, whether they're booksellers, librarians, or English teachers, typically do so on a book's acknowledgementspage. However, to show his appreciation, bestselling author James Patterson is upping the ante.

The state of Mississippi, while home to generations of literary giants, ranks at or close to last of all state literacy rates and the dollar amounts spent on each pupil in its public school system. High poverty levels and a lack of funding for remediation, materials, and teacher training all contribute to the critical problem.