Montana State Library Receives Grants For Statewide Early Literacy Program

The Montana State Library (MSL) is pleased to announce that it has received $45,000 in grant funds from two separate Montana foundations. The First Interstate BancSystem Foundation, based in Billings, awarded the State Library $35,000, and the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, based in Missoula, awarded the State Library $10,000. The money will be used to expand the Montana State Library’s statewide early literacy initiative, Ready 2 Read.

Launched in 2009, the Ready 2 Read program is an effort to help parents and caregivers understand the value of sharing language and literacy with their children. The program has provided collections of high-quality children’s books to libraries, early childhood training to librarians, and extensive information and training to parents and caregivers on the importance of sharing books with children from birth forward.

"New research suggests that there is no greater investment than in early childhood education," said Darlene Staffeldt, Montana State Librarian. "Montana libraries have evolved to meet the challenge of providing programs, services, and materials for our youngest library patrons – children from birth to three years old. We look forward to working with the First Interstate BancSystem and Washington Foundations to expand our offerings even further."

Funding from First Interstate BancSystem Foundation will be used to support training of librarians to further their expertise in early literacy and early childhood education.

"We want every community in Montana to realize that their local library has everything they need to help their child get ready for school and ready for life," said Staffeldt. "Montana libraries offer programming, services, and books for people of all ages – even brand new babies – while our collections and knowledge of community resources can serve as a fountain of accurate and reliable information for parents and caregivers no matter what type of question they may have."

Additional funding from First Interstate BancSystem Foundation will be used to support expansion of the popular Ready 2 Read Goes Wild! trunks, which provide childcare providers, preschools, early elementary educators, parents and caregivers an opportunity to share language, literacy, learning, and nature with their children. A result of a partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) and part of MSL’s statewide early literacy initiative, Ready 2 Read, Ready 2 Read Goes Wild! uses nature and Montana animals to spark kids’ interest in language and literacy, math and science, and the natural world that surrounds them.

"First Interstate Bank is committed to helping make the places where we live and work the best they can be," said First Interstate Bank President and CEO Lyle R. Knight. "We are proud to partner with the Montana State Library in their efforts to increase literacy across Montana."

Funding from the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation will be used to support new "Play and Learn Centers" in public libraries throughout Montana. The Play and Learn Centers will offer high-quality toys and hands-on interactive tools with the goal of expanding the traditional role of children’s services and increasing the capacity of libraries to recognize and realize their full potential as community hubs for healthy child and family development, parent and community involvement and lifelong learning beginning at birth.

"The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation is proud to help the Montana State Library create a learning environment in libraries throughout the state that focuses on the unique and creative needs of children," said Mike Halligan, executive director of the Dennis & Phyllis Washington Foundation. "Turning local libraries into community hubs for healthy child and family development affords all parents of young children access to age appropriate reading materials and a 21st Century learning environment that will reap rewards for society far into the future."

The Ready 2 Read early learning initiative builds on the knowledge that good health, early learning, parental involvement, and supportive communities play a critical role in young children’s growth and development.

"In many of Montana’s communities, the public library is the go-to place for both entertainment and learning," said Staffeldt. "As such, we have a responsibility to our citizens to continually evolve to provide more and better services as research continues to demonstrate the importance of the earliest years in a person’s development and how critical this period is individually but also on a societal level."

The funding from the First Interstate BancSystem Foundation and the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation will be used in conjunction with some federal funding to support the project.

"We are honored to be chosen as recipients of these two amazing Montana foundations," said Staffeldt. "We know that Montana libraries are key partners in the communities they serve when it comes to early learning and we are delighted to be able to expand and build upon our success to provide more resources for Montana’s children, teachers, parents and caregivers."

For more information on the Ready 2 Read early literacy initiative, visit http://ready2readmontana.org or contact Sara Groves at (406) 444-5357 or at [email protected].

About the Montana State Library

Through its statewide programs, the Montana State Library empowers Montanans; enhances learning in families and communities; builds 21st Century skills; and provides opportunities for civic participation. For more information, visit http://msl.mt.gov.

About the First Interstate BancSystem Foundation

First Interstate Bank is a community banking organization, operating 71 offices throughout Montana, Wyoming and western South Dakota. A family business whose culture is driven by strong corporate values, First Interstate is committed to exemplary customer service, exceeding customer expectations through its products and services, and supporting the communities it serves.

About The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation

The major philanthropic organization for The Washington Companies and the Washington family, The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation is actively involved in the communities where its employees live and work. The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation strives to better the human condition by supporting programs and services that give people the tools to enhance the quality of their lives and to benefit society as a whole. Since its inception, Foundation giving and the Washington Family’s personal contributions to charitable causes total more than $120 million.