E.C. Library Continues Its 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Program
nearly 1,600 children have participated in the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library program since its launch over a decade ago
For more than a decade, the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library (400 Eau Claire St., Eau Claire) has offered children ages zero through five – and their families – a self-paced reading program designed to help prepare them for a major milestone: kindergarten.
The “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” programming launched in 2014 and has become an effective tool to get Chippewa Valley children ready for this first step in their education journey.
Jerissa Koenig, an early literacy outreach librarian, shared how research observed by the library over the years – and on a national level – has shown the effectiveness of programs like “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten,” getting kids reading early on and as often as possible.
“The benefits of routinely reading books with young children are numerous,” Koenig said. “Among them, reading books facilitates the development of language and literacy skills, supports social emotional development, and provides ample opportunities for children to practice school readiness skills.”
Short-term memory development, focusing attention and self-regulation for kiddos are three key “readiness skills” Koenig believes the local library’s program enables through its resources.
Completion of the program, naturally, takes between a few months to a few years – depending on how often you read, the programming brochure reads. Any time a child listens to or reads a whole book, it can be counted toward the 1,000-book goal.
“It can be a library book, a book from home, a book read at story time, an audiobook, an e-book; you can even count multiple readings of the same book,” the brochure states.
Caregivers and parents are encouraged to stop by the Youth Services desk in-person – or register on the “Kids” page of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library website – to sign up and receive a welcome pack.
As families return to the library throughout the program to track their reading progress, kids are eligible to receive prizes, new reading materials and – of course – fresh batches of library books.
“1,000 Books Before Kindergarten can help parents and caregivers establish a reading routine while also becoming familiar with the library’s many resources and programs,” Koenig said. “When they reach their 500 and 1,000 book milestones, they show pride in how much they’ve accomplished and how much their children enjoy books and reading.”
The program is also offered nationwide at libraries around the country and within the Chippewa Valley’s Inspiring and Facilitating Library Success (IFLS) Library System, Koenig added. Here locally, the program celebrates the joy of reading at a young age and quality time shared between parents and children.
Since its launch over a decade ago, nearly 1,600 children have participated in this program; 300 of those children have signed up since 2024, Koenig said.
Eau Claire’s public library staff remain confident this upward trend will continue, further solidifying its position as a vital resource for families preparing their children for educational success.
To learn more about L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library’s “1,000 Books Before Kindergarten” program, visit ecpubliclibrary.info/kids or stop by in-person at 400 Eau Claire St., Eau Claire during the library’s open hours of operation.
