November 6, 2008 (Charlotte, NC) – On October 21, the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County was awarded $100,000 by the Leon Levine Foundation, to sustain and expand the library’s"Born Reader" program, an early literacy initiative that provides books and library cards to families of new babies throughout Mecklenburg County.

"Children whose parents read to them early develop healthy literacy and language skills as well as a lifelong love of learning," says Christy Kluesner, organizational giving specialist for the Library."With this funding from the Levine Foundation, and with new support from other foundations, corporations, or individual donors, we can begin to expand services to six birthing centers in Mecklenburg County, potentially reaching every baby born in the county."

The Levine Foundation voted unanimously to fund the program, said Vice President Tom Lawrence in a letter to the Library."We are very excited to partner with such a strong organization with a successful commitment to a mission so close to the vision of our Founder." The Foundation’s mission is to support institutions in the pursuit of academic excellence, providing for disadvantaged and deserving individuals, improving the lives of children, and responding to emerging issues with a significant impact on society.

According to emergent literacy national statistics, approximately 39 percent of families read to their children, and many middle school students in the County are reading below grade level. In tough economic times, the need for education is even greater as more families are pushed toward financial crisis and barely able to provide food and shelter, let alone books, to their children. One-third of students today drop out of school, and juvenile justice research show that youth who are not well-educated may become dependent on society as homeless, unemployed, or Department of Corrections residents.

Last year, the"Born Reader" program distributed 7,000 literacy packages to newborn families at local birthing centers until funding ran out. This gift of $25,000 a year for four years will not only allow the Library to resume the program, but to expand it as well, with the potential to reach the projected 18,000 babies born this year, and a program goal to have 80 percent of those families begin reading to their children.

Each package will contain a copy of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? by Eric Carle in either English or Spanish, a Born Reader library card, and an "I Read to My Child" pledge for the families to sign. These packages will encourage families not only to read the book provided, but begin using the many free resources of the Library, including not only books but other educational materials, story times for children, homework help, and literacy resources available online at plcmc.org.

Since its founding in 1903 as a Carnegie Free Library, PLCMC has provided community service and outreach to the citizens of the Charlotte area. One of the premier libraries in the country, PLCMC was named winner of the 2006 National Award for Library Service. The library sponsors a variety of community-based programs, from computer and Internet workshops to the award-winning Novello Festival of Reading, a celebration of the joys of reading and learning. With 24 locations, 1.6 million volumes and 28,000 videos, DVDs and CDs, PLCMC is dedicated to its mission of expanding minds, empowering individuals and enriching the community.