El Dorado County Libraries are #1 in State

El Dorado County led the state in 2013 with an estimated 79% of families reading to their children on a daily basis according to Children Now, a national organization for people who care about children and want to ensure that they are the top public priority.

The El Dorado County Library supports parents and caregivers, reaching nearly one in six children, ages birth through 5 annually, offering early literacy programs at all six branches, including outreach to preschools and child care programs throughout the county. The Library successfully and efficiently utilizes grant funds resulting in national Family Place Library recognition. Other grant funds support workshops for parents and their children, provide early childhood education staff development and establish mobile child development classrooms.

As a result, the El Dorado County Library is a leader in the State of California, where results of early literacy programs, partnerships and community collaborations have been formally recognized and where the California State Library looks to El Dorado County for guidance with other libraries' early literacy programs.

Early literacy is associated with positive long‐term outcomes, including school success, college attendance and fulfilling careers.

To celebrate the achievement, there will be a celebration at the Placerville Library, located at 345 Fair Lane, on Thursday, May 22 at 10:00 a.m.

There will be special presentations by:

Wendy David, Chair - First 5 El Dorado Children and Families Commission
Camille Maben, Executive Director - First 5 California Children and Families Commission
Norma Santiago, Chair - El Dorado County Board of Supervisors

First 5 El Dorado Commission is committed to improving the lives of children 0 through 5 and their families by promoting, enhancing, and developing comprehensive early childhood systems through collaborative partnerships, early care and education, health, and community services." ‐ Mission