"Prime Time Family Reading Time ® is a reading, discussion and storytelling
series based on illustrated children's books. It is designed to help low
income, low literate families bond around the act of reading and learning
together. It teaches parents and children to read and discuss humanities
topics, and aids them in selecting books and becoming active public library
users.
Created by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH), Prime Time is
based on a successful series of the same name that began at the East Baton
Rouge (La.) Public Library in 1991 and has expanded nationally through a
partnership between LEH and the ALA and with funding from National Endowment
for the Humanities (NEH). To date, nearly 4,000 individuals have
participated in more than 100 Prime Time programs in 17 states.
Program Structure
Prime Time will be offered in the Spring, Summer and Fall of 2002 by a total
of 14 libraries nationwide. Seven libraries will be selected to offer the
series in the Spring or Summer and another seven in the Fall. Each series
will be offered by a team that consists of the library, the humanities
scholar, the storyteller, and one of the following statewide organizations:
the state humanities council, the state library, or the state library
association. The library will serve as the team leader.
Each Prime Time series will meet once a week for six weeks. Reading and
discussion leaders will conduct 90-minute meetings at public libraries for
parents or guardians and their children. At each session, a storyteller will
model storytelling and read-aloud techniques. Using award-winning
children's books, a humanities scholar will stimulate discussion of core
humanities themes. The library representative will introduce families to
library resources and services. Younger siblings, aged 3 to 5, will
participate in separate pre-reading activities.
The series is designed for libraries near public transportation, within
walking distance of participants, or where the library or other agency can
provide transportation for participants. Grant funding will be provided for
transportation if needed.
Multiple books will be provided for each program. Participating libraries
will share books. At the conclusion of the series, the books will be
returned to the LEH for future Prime Time programming."
Application deadline is October 21, 2001. Applications are available online
at <http://www.ala.org/publicprograms/primetime/>.
