We take literacy seriously at the Aurora Public Library District (APLD). The Library is especially proud to provide families with the tools they need to create bright futures for their children. For this reason, we will be host to the First Annual Early Literacy Expo from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21, 2023 at the Santori Library, 101 S. Broadway. At this event, the Library will connect families with valuable resources in the community, further strengthening the educational foundation for our youngest customers.
Early literacy and pre-literacy skills are the skills that children learn prior to learning how to read in kindergarten. These include, but are not limited to, print awareness, phonological awareness, and print motivation. In other words, teaching children how to recognize text in the world around them, how to respect and handle books, how the words on a page move, and how to hear words and sounds. These are skills that our librarians demonstrate daily! Children’s librarians love to be host to story times where we read, sing, play, dance, and instill a love for libraries and reading in children from a young age. The Early Literacy Expo and the Library’s mission and passion go hand in hand.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about all the wonderful and enriching programs the Library offers for children ages 0 – 5 years and caregivers will learn about social services in Aurora and meet potential instructors for their toddlers. Preschool and daycare representatives will be on-site for families to learn about their organization’s cost, curriculum, and staffing. Non-profit organizations, including S.P.A.R.K., Birth to Five Illinois, and the Aurora Food Pantry will be in attendance to share their early childhood expertise and offerings. The Library’s Early Literacy Specialist, Gretchen Schulz, feels strongly about providing this opportunity to our customers. “Traditionally, public libraries are host to preschool and daycare fairs for their service population. We at APLD wanted to take this one step further and invite social services in order to provide the most comprehensive scope of local organizations whose passion is to connect with and educate young children.”
All ages are welcome at the event, because there will be something for everyone. The Library will feature a storytime for children, crafts, and a special scavenger hunt for the chance to win a prize. Staff members will be available to sign the whole family up for their own Library cards, even babies, because our cards have no minimum age requirement! Be sure to enter our door-prize drawing for an opportunity to win an Evenflo Gold Otto Self-Folding Lightweight Travel Stroller, courtesy of the Aurora Regional Fire Museum and S.P.A.R.K.! Each family will receive a goodie bag with Library information, a free book, and a silicone bib courtesy of the Aurora Public Library District Foundation, while supplies last. The Early Literacy Expo is free for the public and non-profit vendors. For more information, please visit www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/event/7215351 or contact the Library at 630-264-4117.
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.