2020 Program Theme:

“Fun and Games”

2020 official program dates: November 9 – 15

Registration is open September 16 – October 16 (or until 100 spots are filled)

A big THANK YOU to the members of our Idaho Family Reading Week Planning Committee for helping us plan this year's program!

Amanda Bowden, Portneuf District Library
Bianca Garcia, Mountain Home Public Library
Cheryl Fife, Pepper Ridge Elementary School Library
Jennifer Trail, Glenns Ferry Public Library
Mandi Harris, Coeur d’Alene Public Library
Rasheil Stanger, Valley of the Tetons District Library

2020 Program Resources:

Program Objectives

The primary objectives of the Idaho Family Reading Week program are:

  • To emphasize the importance of daily family reading time and its support of early childhood literacy.
  • To connect families/caregivers of young children with the early literacy resources their local public library and school library has available to help them prepare their child for school success.
  • To help every family/caregiver obtain a public library card and visit a public and/or school library

By applying for the Idaho Family Reading Week program, the library agrees to:

  • host at least 1 family reading event (virtual, in-person, via curbside services, or a combination of these delivery methods) by November 30, 2020 (event does NOT have to be Nov 9-15 only; can be anytime in the month of November);
  • promote library programming/resources and library cards/library access for all families;
  • submit a summary event report including numbers served, narrative responses and program/resource feedback by December 15, 2020

Basic Program Information for 2020:

  • We have the capacity to serve 100 Idaho libraries. Public and school libraries may register for this program. School libraries are encouraged to partner with an applying public library and submit one registration form for a joint event. If the local public library cannot partner, the school library may apply on their own. We want to serve as many children/families as possible so we encourage community collaboration and discourage duplicate requests.
  • Program Registration: approx. September 21 – October 16  (based on a first-come, first served protocol; it will remain open until filled or until we reach the closing date)
  • Libraries that register will receive: Access to the activity video created by Salmon Public Library for this year’s program, artwork, marketing collateral, activity templates developed by ICfL for this year’s theme, and paperback books to give to participating families (limits will apply). This year, in order to serve more children and families (with limited resources due to COVID 19), ICfL will not be providing hardcover books for the library’s collection but instead will be purchasing more paperback books for libraries to give to their participants.
  • Libraries that are unable to register before we reach our maximum capacity of 100 libraries: You can still offer the program with the help of our free, downloadable marketing collateral, the activity video link, and several activity templates/handouts. You may also consider if your event meets the requirements of the “Outreach for Underserved Children” program, found here.

  • Sept 1: Idaho FRW website updated with the new art, themed activities and resource info & Idaho FRW info/registration postcard mailed to every public library and elementary school library in Idaho
  • Sept 21: Idaho FRW Registration opens! (closes when registration hits 100 libraries)
  • Oct 1 – Oct 15: Requested books and resources mailed out to participating libraries. Libraries who do not register before we hit capacity can use all program art, activity templates and other resources listed on the FRW website.
  • November: Idaho FRW events held – any day in November or during week of Nov 9-15 (the official week of FRW)
  • December 15: Idaho FRW event summary reports due to ICfL for all participating libraries

Download and utilize themed “Fun and Games” artwork designed by ICfL to promote your Idaho Family Reading Week event. Posters and letterhead templates have room for library-specific information and customization.

Posters/Flyers:

Customizable Letterhead – Word doc

Facebook Banner

Website Banner 

Public Announcement Info:

Storytime Resources: 

Activity Ideas/Handouts by Category:

Library staff…share these editable handouts directly with your library patrons or take one or two of the ideas you find here and build it out to be a complete program of its own!

*Any of the above ideas can also be adapted to in-library/in-person activities.

(Word doc) of PDF

Themed Recommended Reading List – Utilize these themed-book recommendations to create your own bookmarks, sort by age group, send home as a parent flyer, create a library display, or as a recommended check-out list for shared family reading.

“Fun & Games” Activity Videos (created by Salmon Public Librarians Francesca Bessey and Jeff Stratter):  

NOTE: these videos are being created as we speak and should be available by October 15th at the latest. You can count on having these activity videos to share with your patrons in time for your Family Reading Week events in November.

Library staff…share these You Tube video links with your library patrons or registered Family Reading Week participants for hands-on fun at home or in the library! (You are also welcome to embed these videos on your FB page)

Looking for more info/tips about how to create great library programming via videos? Check out the “Videomaking Basics & Tips from Salmon Public Library”

Five Early Literacy Skills handouts  – library can download/print themselves or order from ICfL via “Support Materials Order Form”:

Talking is Teaching handouts – a national literacy information campaign:

Fostering Readers website – “Helping you plan fun, research-based literacy activities for children in K-3rd grade”

Check out all the great resources and ideas at:  https://fosteringreaders.weebly.com 

Event planning tips and ideas for a successful Idaho Family Reading Week event:

“Fun & Games” themed books to be provided to registered libraries:

Blackout, by John Rocco

Not a Box, by Antoinette Portis

Magic Tree House Amazing Activity Book

Magic Tree House Journal

Program Registration

(Open Sept 21 – Oct 16 – or until filled)

Summary Report

(Due by December 15th)

Idaho Family Reading Week Archives

Looking for great program ideas and activities?

Check out the Idaho Family Reading Week archives.

Questions? Contact Read To Me Project Coordinator, Kristina Taylor

Kristina Taylor

Kristina Taylor

Outreach & Community Engagement Consultant
Email / 208-639-4136
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