New program at Milton Public Library promotes early literacy

The public library in Milton is launching a new program aimed at promoting literacy among young children.

It’s called the Baby Bees First Reads Program, and it provides free library cards and literacy kits to new mothers who deliver at Halton Healthcare hospitals.

A launch event was held Thursday at the library, with partners Halton Healthcare and the Milton Community Resource Centre.

Chris Dorscht from the Milton Public Library says all families of newborns at Halton Healthcare will get a voucher to come to the library where they will receive a reading starter kit.

“So in there will be a board book that the parents can read to their child so, obviously the library is there to promote early literacy for children, so that they become future patrons of the library,” Dorscht said.

By focusing on infants, organizers say they hope the program helps more children become users of the library system.

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