For Immediate Release: August 15, 2007

Want to Help Improve Oakland’s Literacy?
Become a Volunteer Storyreader

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(Oakland, CA)—Want to share your love of books and encourage a new generation of readers in Oakland? Books for Wider Horizons, a program of the Oakland Public Library, is seeking volunteer storyreaders to present weekly storytimes to preschoolers at partnering Head Start and Oakland Unified School District centers throughout Oakland. The storyreaders will help introduce children to the pleasure of stories and inspire excitement about books. The next series of training begins on September 25 at the Rockridge Branch Library, and extends through October 13, 2007. Bilingual volunteers are needed, especially in Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Tagalog, and Cambodian.

Interested participants must complete a comprehensive 7-session training to learn the art of story reading from Gay Ducey, a Children’s Librarian at the Rockridge Branch, and a professional storyteller whose talents have been featured on The Mr. Roger’s Show. Ms. Ducey has also taught classes in storytelling at Dominican College, Santa Rosa Junior College, and the University of California at Berkeley Extension Program. Training focuses on how to select and share wonderful books and techniques for presenting engaging storytimes for 3 to 5 year olds.

Upon completion of the training, the Books for Wider Horizons Coordinator will place volunteers at a preschool center in Oakland where they will read one 30-minute story each week for a minimum six month commitment. Please note that class size is limited and that training normally fills up quickly, so call right away! The fall training schedule follows:

TRAINING DATES : Participants must attend all seven classes.

Tuesday September 25 6-8:15 PM
Wednesday September 26 6-8:15 PM
Thursday September 27  6-8:15 PM
Tuesday October 9 6-8 :15 PM
Wednesday October 10 6-8:15 PM
Thursday October 11 6-8:15 PM
Saturday October 13   9 AM-3:00 PM

All trainings take place at the Rockridge Branch Library, 5366 College Avenue. To register or for more information, please call Books for Wider Horizons, (510) 238-7453.

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