For Immediate ReleaseFor More Information, Contact
September 14, 2007
PIO# 224-07/ajb		Andrea Blackford, Communications Officer, at 703.519.3489


Alexandria Library Joins Jumpstart’s Read for the Record
Event to Promote Public Awareness of Early Childhood Education

The City of Alexandria’s libraries invite patrons, young and old, to enjoy a shared reading experience, on Thursday, September 20, with readers across the nation for a campaign called "Read for the Record." This year, Read for the Record provides an opportunity for everyone to read the campaign’s official book, The Story of Ferdinand.

Read for the Record is sponsored by Jumpstart, a national nonprofit organization focused on intervening early in the lives of at-risk children, through intensive, one-to-one early education mentoring. Read for the Record is a national campaign designed to encourage children and adults across the country to read the same book on the same day. The goal of the event is to raise public awareness about significant disparities that exist in early education. According to Jumpstart, because of early discrepancies in language acquisition and literacy skills (due primarily to economic inequality), one third of children in the United States arrive at their first day of school unprepared to learn.

In recognition of Read for the Record in Alexandria, public readings of The Story of Ferdinandwill be held at Library branches throughout the City:
    • Vice Mayor Redella “Del” Pepper will read at the Duncan Branch Library (2501 Commonwealth Ave.) at 11 a.m.;
    • Library Director Patrick O’Brien will read at Beatley Library (5005 Duke St.) at 10 a.m.;
    • Branch Manager Nelson Cuellar and Children’s Librarian Miss Beverly will read in Spanish and English at the Burke Branch (4701 Seminary Rd.) at 10 a.m.;
    • Branch Manager Luis Labra will read at the Barrett Branch (717 Queen St.) at 11 a.m.; and
    • Judi Hempel, Alexandria Library’s Outreach Storyteller, will be reading to children at daycare centers throughout the day.
    Read for the Record is not limited to large events. Any child and adult can participate just by sitting down to read–maybe even under a shady tree, just where Ferdinand would want to be! The campaign web site, www.readfortherecord.org, also provides additional information about donating books to Jumpstart children.

    For more information on these events, call Mark Schwartz, Public Information Officer, Alexandria Library, at 703.519.3498 or visit www.alexandria.lib.va.us.


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