City of Arlington, Texas - Press Releases - Archives - March 2003

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Arlington Public Library to Receive State Award for Reading Outreach Program

by Cheryel Carpenter
March 20, 2003

The Arlington Public Library has won the Highsmith Library Award for the Read It Again! outreach program.

The Highsmith Award is presented annually by the Texas Library Association to two libraries in the state that demonstrate innovation and excellence in library programming.

"It is gratifying to receive recognition for a program that we already know is making a difference in the community," said Library Outreach Specialist Kathryn Powell. "The award money will be icing on the cake, and we'll put that to good use for Read It Again!"

A plaque and a $1,000 monetary award will be presented April 3 to Arlington public library officials attending the Texas Library Association annual conference in Houston.

Read It Again! is an outreach program funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The program was developed to encourage and equip childcare professionals with the tools to read to children. The program exposes them to the free resources available through Arlington public libraries. The grant has allowed for the creation of workshops, training materials, parent information in Arlington and the distribution of more than 300 storytime kits for teachers, parents and volunteers.