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JAMESTOWN, NY (WNY News Now) — The Prendergast Library in Jamestown has made it their mission to invest in child literacy, and later this month, they are hosting a free interactive activity using music to get kids interested in reading.
While there won’t be school on Monday, January 30th in Jamestown due to a superintendent’s conference day, young students still have the opportunity to learn.
The Prendergast Library has some family fun up their sleeve, as they prepare to host two music workshops.
At 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., the community Music Project for children six and under, features various instruments for kids to use, encouraging them to get up and move.
“Early literacy is really important and we’re always trying to help kids build those skills and make reading and other literacy activities fun and engaging,” said Danielle Bertolini, the assistant library manager. “And we’re also just trying to be a fun, safe place for kids and families in the community, offering free programs. And so we’re really excited that we can continue to do that.”
Later in the day, Infinity Drumming will hold workshops at 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. for children over the age of six. Last year’s drum circle, held on the library lawn, received positive feedback from attendees.
“Music is something that kids tend to just enjoy even listening to or engaging in. And it helps them build their literacy levels by connecting words to music, and if we use props, then its sight to word relations,” said Librarian Hannah Dewey. “Having that be an enjoyable time for them in the library will have them looking back fondly on it when they’re able to come in here by themselves or later on with their caregivers, which then would foster relationships with books.”
All in all the point of fun activities like this is to get little ones interested in reading.
“The story times that we have, we often incorporate musical elements, and I think it’s just another way to get kids engaged,” said Bertolini. “It’s a very active program, and I think again, with our story times when we’re reading out loud, it becomes active, it becomes collaborative, it’s no longer kind of a solitary activity.”
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