Everybody Reads initiative seeks to get Sioux Falls to read 300,000 books in March
Officials with the Sioux Falls School District and City of Sioux Falls want everyone to read this month. Specifically, they’d like the community to read 300,000 books.
The third annual “Everybody Reads” initiative started March 1 and runs until March 22, and the goal is for each hundred thousand books read, the organizers will make a $500 donation to REACH Literacy, a local nonprofit that provides literacy instruction for youth and adult readers.
Ann Smith, coordinator of libraries for the district, spoke during Monday night’s school board meeting about this year’s theme of “Rain or Shine: Everybody Reads,” and said the initiative in partnership with Siouxland Libraries helps shine a light on the importance literacy.
“Whether it’s a beautiful, sunny day like today, or raining like we hope it’s going to be on Thursday, every day is a good day to read,” Smith said. “We need to kick it into high gear if we’re going to make it to 300,000.”
As of Tuesday morning, a live book counter on the district’s website indicates more than 82,000 books have been read.
Each of the school libraries and public libraries in the city have displays with raindrops that represent each book read. Students and community members can fill out a raindrop when they finish a book and add it to the display.
“We know that literacy is so important for every person, and that it’s a gateway to a better life,” Smith said. “We know that when we have a community of readers, we have citizens who are engaged, more empathetic and have strong critical thinking skills.”
In a video produced by the district, Superintendent Jane Stavem added reading is important throughout one’s entire life, even for infants and toddlers whose brains and language skills develop when parents read to them, or for adults who read for enjoyment, she explained.
“In elementary years, as our children are learning how to read and growing in their love of reading, they’re partnering with their teachers. They’re learning what they like, they’re learning their library skills, and that’s what carries them to middle and high school, and beyond,” she said. “When they know what genres they love to read, they connect it with writing, and writing some of their own things that other people read.”
Mayor Paul TenHaken emphasized in the video the goal is to get everybody to read, no matter their age. He said it’s also a good time to get a library card.
“If you have maybe taken a little break from reading, or you have not read as much as you maybe set a goal that you wanted to read more and you maybe haven’t fulfilled that, this is a great time to jump in,” he said. “You can feel like you’re being part of something bigger.”
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Sioux Falls wants your help reading 300,000 books this month
