Rotary Children’s Sharing Library @ the Ed Isakson/Alpharetta YMCA

Alpharetta set aside $10K for the President’s Signature Project in Basic Education and Literacy. The goal was to leave a lasting legacy in adult, teen, and child literacy. Included in the overall project is Rotary Children’s Sharing Library. The Library for Infants through 3rd grade allows children to experience the value of - and love for – reading. Initiated with District Grant funds, we purchased $500.00 of books from First Book, a discount supplies, valued at $1500.00. In addition, we provided the seed money $1500.00 for other supplies to open the library. The Library was dedicated and opened in September. With the books in place children are encouraged to choose a book to take home, and in return share a favorite book. To help replenish the library Alpharetta Rotary provides books endorsed by our weekly Speakers. Following the opening of the Library, Rotarians attended the "Read Right from the Start" Language and Literacy workshop. The primary objective of the RRFTS program is to ensure children are well-equipped to enter elementary school. The half-day session help Rotarians be effective volunteer readers for the children at the YMCA now and in the future. The impact will be felt by over 2,000 community children in after-school programs and 500 more in day camps daily. They will benefit not only from the library but from trained volunteers. Our initiative to support the Library is the start of a pilot program for a strong literacy and reading program that we hope to continue to support.