Queens Library Literacy Program is $10,000 richer after winning the national Better World Books/NCFL Libraries and Families Award.
The National Center for Family Literacy and Better World Books are two organizations that use their resources to provide higher education and benefits to students.
“This program fills a tremendous need in the community,” said David Murphy, president and chief executive officer of Better World Books. “We are proud to partner with NCFL to specifically promote the new and innovative ways libraries like this are working to bring families together over books and learning.”
The library’s literacy course takes responsibility for providing improvements in socialization and academic skills for children and adults. Parents gain tools and tips to become active advocates for their child’s education.
“We combine goal-setting for real-life situations, emotional support, participants’ cultural traditions and student-driven learning so families learn the skills they need to attain their future ambitions,” said Silvana Vasconcelos, family literacy program coordinator. “This award will help us continue the innovative and intensive services we provide to our diverse community.”
According to Joanne King, associate director of communications at Queens Public Library, they use innovate techniques such as music, art and dance to motivate people to learn literacy skills. They challenge the students by giving them projects to interview their grandparents to learn about their culture and to learn about life before they were born.
“Queens Library is so effective because they realize that teaching literacy is not only about reading and writing, it’s about empowering parents to take an active role in their child’s education,” said Commissioner of the Department of Youth and Community Development Jeanne B. Mullgrav.
“The real mark of their work is in the success of the people they serve. In the most diverse county in the United States, Queens Library is a proven leader in building the skills that new immigrants need to succeed in their new city, and I want to congratulate them on a job well done.”
