Geneva Reads

nizations in Geneva were working to promote literacy, and this grant provided the inspiration to coordinate the separate efforts and establish a community-wide reading initiative. The Geneva City School District, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, the Geneva Public Library, Literacy Volunteers and others were represented at those early meetings. A community’s literacy level affects everyone. We are excited by the growth we have seen since Geneva Reads was founded. After several years of dedicated leadership from two VISTAs, Holly Kahn and Kelsey Lagana, Geneva Reads started a strategic planning process in 2011. It included electing a board of directors and paved the way for hiring a part-time executive director in 2012. These changes have been marked by innovation and enthusiasm. They have led to expanded programming and efforts to engage the whole community in literacy — a true quality-of-life issue. Our programming includes (inaugural year in parentheses):

Community Bookshelves — Free, gently used books are available throughout Geneva on our brightly painted Community Bookshelves, which are situated where families wait for appointments, such as the Department of Social Services and the pediatric offices of Finger Lakes Medical Associates (FLMA), and other sites where children are served: the Community Lunch Program, St. Peter’s Church, The Presbyterian Church in Geneva, Geneva Housing Authority, Child & Family Resources, Happiness House, the Geneva city school district office, the Food Pantry, the Geneva Community Center and the city’s three elementary schools. (2007)

School-Age Book Distribution — Elementary school children can choose a free book at their school’s book fairs; every child who registers for kindergarten receives a special hardcover book. (2016/2007) (When we couldn’t do the book fair portion of this program in the spring, we used the money to buy books to deliver to homes.) Ready to Read — Each child in Head Start, Universal Pre-Kindergarten and the Agri-Business Child Development center receives 15-20 books a year to enjoy as part of the classroom curriculum and then to take home and share with their parents. Take home activities have been included with several of the books since 2016. (2007)

Outreach — Volunteers staff our big red tent at the Geneva Farmers’ Market and other community events, providing books and sometimes activities for the children to enjoy. (2012)

Community Read — Each March, Geneva shines the spotlight on books and literacy during Community Read Month, through the distribution of theme-related books and the hosting of events. Past themes have included: The environment, immigration, Alzheimer’s, bullying and slavery. (2009)

Book Fest — This annual free event at the Geneva Community Center brings 30 or more organizations and agencies together, each with a book-related booth and activity for children. (2009)

Geneva Reads at WIC — Volunteers attend every session of Women Infant and Children’s session, providing reading support and inspiration to families and books for their children. (2013)

Healthy Readers — Each child receives a new (primarily bilingual) book at each well-child visit from age 2 weeks to 4 years at Finger Lakes Medical Associates and Finger Lakes Community Health. (2013, expanded and renamed from its original format, Books at Birth)

Summer Slide Book Fairs — All children attending the city school district’s summer school program (which is both enrichment and remedial) are invited to pick 7 to 10 books they’d like to own to read over the summer. (2016) (In 2020 we took orders and delivered because of the Covid pandemic.) Random Acts for Reading — Board members have access to a supply of new board books to offer to a child they see waiting in line, waiting to be served at a restaurant, or wherever a reading diversion would be welcome. (2018)

Project Sweet Sleep — Each homeless child served by Family Promise of Ontario County receives a drawstring bag, a book, a blanket and a stuffed buddy. (2019)

Hispanic Family Reading — Most recently — although its implementation has been stalled by Covid-19 — we’ve begun a Hispanic Family Reading program to make Spanish-language books available to parents who can’t read English, so that they will be able to set the reading example for their children. All Geneva Reads events are free and open to the public. Contacts and social media:
www.genevareads.org
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[email protected]

Reading remains an essential skill in 21st century America, even when television and video are so widespread. Reading and reading well continue to open doors of opportunity and contribute to our success. Whether reading a label on a box of rice, Moby Dick, or the symptoms of an illness on a medical website, the ability to read continues to have a formative influence on our lives and the lives of our children. A person who is unable to read is often dependent on others for information. Words and worlds are closed to the person unable to read.