RIF distributes free books

County program teaches love of reading to children

To mark its first year, Clark County Reads Reading is Fundamental (RIF) program did what it's been doing all school year, distributing free new books to children in one of 24 elementary schools.

The last day wasn't anything special, but you couldn't say that to the children as they busily scurried from one table to another, perusing all the books that could be the one they would take home.

Kay Carl, program manager for Clark County Reads and elementary school namesake, fell in love with reading in the first grade, when she won a prize for reading the most books. An avid reader ever since, Carl wants other children to feel the joy she does when she picks up a book.

"I have four or five books going at one time," Carl said.

Although the children could only pick one book, it empowered them to make their own decision. No matter what school she's at, some students choose books of their own liking while others take more simple reading material they can read to their younger siblings, Carl said.

"Children don't always get to choose what they read," Carl said. "We want to give them the opportunity to choose."

The RIF program, developed nationwide in 1966 but coordinated through Clark County Reads beginning last fall, gives each of 24 schools three book distribution days throughout the school year. It is then up to the coordinators at the school to create motivational activities or entertainment to correlate the event.

At Herron Elementary School on the last giveaway of the school year June 13, Clifford the Big Red Dog, star of children's books bearing his name, came for a visit.

Each year, the program reaches 14,000 children and gives away 42,000 new books. The books are paid for 75 percent by state and federal grants and 25 percent by local donors, Carl said.

A group of librarians and educators choose the books, including bilingual material, which is very popular. Carl is pushing publishers for true bilingual books, with one language on one page and the English translation on the other.

An increase in Chinese-speaking students at southwest-area schools, as well as growing Korean and Filipino populations citywide, have made the bilingual book search interesting, Carl said.

"It will help the families improve their language skills. The goal is dual language families," Carl said. "There's a real niche for not only Spanish but other languages in this community."

Some schools such as Herron employ more than the one allotted literacy specialist the school district provides. These teachers are paid for by state and federal grants and are needed to make sure reading is a priority in every grade level and students are reading to the best of their ability.

"They absolutely love to read," said Ann Dunn, Reading is Fundamental coordinator and third-grade literacy specialist at Herron. "And they all write thank-you notes (for the books they receive), so they're getting experience writing. Their writing is getting better."

Travis Hooser, a second-grade teacher at the school, spun around effortlessly to see the books his students were showing for his approval. Navy Perez, 8, chose "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White. He said he doesn't discourage them, even if they choose a book they might not be ready to read.

"They still get to decide. If they like the book, and they want to read it later, they can," Hooser said. "This is the start of (their) library."

At Herron, three and four-year-olds are exposed to reading in the early childhood class with picture books and story time.

"It's a habit you have to establish in kids early on," Carl said.

The Clark County Reads RIF program concentrates on elementary schools, but the organization doesn't forget the older children, Carl said. Other services are offered through Clark County Reads, such as recycling books for teachers to use in their classrooms and volunteer reading partners. The group also boosts reference and nonfiction books in middle and high schools, replenishing books that have sometimes been on the shelves for more than 20 years.

Recently, at Eldorado High School, Carl found a reference book with a copyright date of 1983.

"Fiction books don't wear out. Shakespeare is Shakespeare is Shakespeare," Carl said. "We found books where the books on U.S. History, the last president is (Lyndon) Johnson. Some said someday man will walk on the moon."

Clark County Reads was developed in May 2001 as a county-wide literacy initiative of the Clark County Public Education Foundation in cooperation with Clark County, the school district and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

Those interested can call 799-5437 or visit the Web site at www.clarkcountyreads.org.


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