CenturyLink New Mexico

QWEST FOUNDATION DONATION OF $10,000 TO ALBUQUERQUE/BERNALILLO COUNTY LIBRARY SYSTEM IS ONE FOR THE BOOKS

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Jan. 7, 2008 – The CenturyLink Foundation today announced a $10,000 grant to the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Library System to fund a program to give low-income students early literary skills.

The Every Child Ready to Read program, sponsored by the library, is an interactive program designed to teach parents and caregivers of children early literacy skills they can use every day. The goal of the program is to provide parents and caregivers with the skills to help their children with reading.

“Reading is such an essential skill today, and the Every Child Ready to Read program helps young children learn good literacy skills that prepare them for life,” said Loretta A. Armenta, CenturyLink president for New Mexico. “I’m proud that CenturyLink can play such an important role in their efforts.”

"Early childhood literacy is an important component of the library system's mission to enrich our community,” said Julia Clarke, library director. “This generous grant from CenturyLink supports the continuation of Every Child Ready to Read workshops for families in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County."

The program teaches six essential skills that parents and caregivers can use with their children to develop early literacy skills. The “fun” aspect is emphasized through the reading of picture books, role playing in practicing interactive reading with children, playing word games, and singing songs which parents and caregivers participate in.

The Albuquerque/Bernalillo Library system is a city/county library system serving all of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County with 17 branches.