Libraries : FULLERTON : Outreach-Literacy Program to Continue

With the addition of 600 new Spanish-language children’s books and a recent grant from the California State Library Assn., Fullerton’s main library plans to continue its outreach-literacy program to Latino children this year.

The program, called Partnership for Change, targets Latino children between the ages of 5 and 10 who live in the immediate area, according to Carolyn Eckert, the children service manager for the library.

The grant of about $250,000 will be administered in stages, Eckert said. In addition to the grant and books, the program has been helped by a coalition of 70 community leaders and five bilingual staff librarians.

The program now focuses on 25 families whose children attend the Richman, Woodcrest and Golden Hill elementary schools. “The library works one-on-one with these families, counseling them on nutrition and other subjects,” Eckert said. “Our eventual hope is that these families become magnet families that spread the word about the library services.”

Since the program started early last year, circulation of Spanish-language books has doubled. “Everybody feels fantastic about the program,” Eckert said. “Usually, when something like this goes into effect, it takes some time to see results. But in this case, we’ve seen some immediate results.”

Although the outreach program is intended for children, Eckert said, parents and older family members benefit from the help the children get because they, too, learn how to use the library.