Motor Skills and Early Literacy

   Young children develop all sorts of motor skills as they grow.  Here are some that pertain to books and literacy.
   At 6-12 months a baby can reach for a book, and put it in his mouth.  He can sit in your lap, hold his head steady and turn pages with adult help.
   At 12-16 months a baby can sit without support, may carry a book, can hold a book with help, and turn pages of a board book, several at a time.
   At 18-24 months, a baby can turn pages of a board book, one page at a time, and can carry a book around the house.
   At 24-36 months, a toddler learns to handle paper pages, and goes back and forth in books to find her favorite pictures.
   At ages 3 years and up, a child exhibits competent book handling and can turn paper pages, one page at a time.

Libraries are Awesome!

Here's a good blog post on libraries from a neat blog called Savvy Daddy.

Libraries are a good deal!

   What you already know, is now shown in a recent study by the State Library and Archives of Florida.

   Libraries provide essential services to a community whether helping people of all ages learn something new or improve existing skills.  Libraries can help to attract people and businesses to an area.  Libraries provide a sense of community.

   Visits to libraries have increased  in recent years in spite of stagnant funding due to nationwide economic conditions.

   The Taxpayer Return on Investment in Florida Public Libraries study, conducted by the Haas Center at the University of West Florida, (and funded by a grant from the federal government) shows that for every tax dollar received, Florida public libraries (in 2008 when the study was done), provided $8.32 in value.   This, of course, is an average throughout the state. 

   Think about it this way. If you had to buy outright  all of the books and DVDs that you borrow…, if you had to pay outright for the computer classes that you attend…., if there was a charge to attend children’s programs or to use the meeting room...that's quite a bill.  Your public library provides these things for your use.

   Think about this and how libraries benefit businesses.  On your trip to the library you might stop and have lunch, go to a store, buy gas...things you might have done anyway...but the lunch and a store purchase might be extra purchases.  Businesses benefited by your trip to the library.   
   Buildings are built and maintained, supplies are purchased.  Local businesses can and do provide those services, again local businesses benefit.

   Libraries are a good deal!

Did you know....

... that there are more public libraries than McDonald's in the U.S?

...public libraries are the number one point of online access for people without internet connections at home, school, or work?

...Americans go to school, public and academic libraries more often than they go to the movies?

More library facts here.

Return on Investment in Florida Public Libraries

For every tax dollar received, Florida public libraries provide $8.32 in value.

The statewide return on investment increased from $6.54 in 2004 to $8.32 in 2008. The current study also examines the social value of public libraries and provides a return on investment calculation for each county.

KEY FINDINGS

Florida Libraries Support a Strong Economy

• Jobs Created — A job is created for every $3,491 of public support to Florida libraries.
• Income or Wages Increase — Income (wages) increases by $22.97 for every dollar of public support to libraries.
• Gross Regional Product Increases — The value of all goods and services produced in the state of Florida increases by $10.57 for every dollar of public support to libraries. 

Libraries Provide Essential Services

• Public libraries help people learn new things no matter their age.
• Public libraries improve a community by helping people learn new skills so they can get better jobs.
• Public libraries attract good businesses to the area. 

Find out what your library is worth to you.

More information here.

September is Library Card Sign Up Month

Visit your library today. It is a community hub of activity. In tough economic times, your library card gives you free access to books and computers, homework help, assistance with resumes and job searches, accurate financial information, adult education courses, CDs, DVDs and much more.