(KLZA)--The Falls City Library & Arts Center is excited to announce it is one of seven Nebraska public libraries and elementary schools to be awarded a 2024 Dollar General Literacy Foundation Youth Literacy grant.

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation- Youth Literacy grants provide funds to assist in implementing new or expanding existing literacy programs, purchasing technology or equipment to support literacy initiatives, and/or purchasing books or materials for literacy programs. Our grant funds will be used to create and implement a customized version of the nation-wide “1000 Books before Kindergarten” library program. “1000 Books before Kindergarten” is designed to help parents prepare their children for one of life- big milestones: kindergarten.

Research has proven over and over that children get ready to read years before they begin their formal education and the most effective way to get a child ready to learn is to read to them. Our program will extend the reach beyond kindergarten to children through the end of first grade - allowing us to reach many more pre-reading and early reading children.

Families will track the number of books read and small prizes will be awarded at the completion of various levels of the program. This will be a self-paced, family-powered program with lots of fun games and prizes along the way. This program will provide another opportunity for children and families to grow together with the added benefit of increased pre- and early literacy skills allowing children to be better prepared to both enter and progress in school.

Details are being finalized and we anticipate kicking off the program by the end of November 2024.