The Hardin County Empowerment Area is acutely aware of the importance of early literacy efforts geared toward children birth through kindergarten.  Studies have show that children who are read to, given age-appropriate books, and whose parents and care givers emphasize early literacy, are more likely to be successful students in school and successful citizens and workers of tomorrow.

HCEA is interested in supporting programs and grant requests from early literacy development and like programs that will help prepare children to succeed in school.

HCEA Supported Programs

Dolly Parton Imagination Library
The Imagination Library is sponsored by the Friends of the Eldora Public Library and the Kiwanis Club of Eldora.  Children are signed-up and then receive an age-appropriate book in the mail per month from birth until they begin school.  The program encourages parents to read to the children and also allows children to develop their own personal library.
Contact: Dan Gehring, Eldora Public Library,
1201 10th Street, Eldora, IA, 50627
641 939-2173
Barlow Library Toddler Outreach Program
The program has an outreach storyteller and literacy advocate who goes directly to preschools and home providers to serve toddlers in their care, which eliminates the inconvenience of a provider needing to bring their children to story time.  Also Pajama Storyline is held the first Tuesday of the month.
Contact: Terry Tikovitsch, Barlow Memorial Library
921 West Washington, Iowa Falls, IA, 50126
641 648-2872

For other early literacy programs that may be available, contact these Hardin County libraries for information:

 

Ackley Public Library 401 State Street Ackley, IA 50601 641-847-2233	Alden Public Library 1012 Water Street Alden, IA 50006 515-859-3820	Hubbard Public Library 323 E. Maple Street Hubbard, IA 50601 641-864-2771
Radcliffe Public Library 210 Isabella Street Radcliffe, IA 50122 515-899-7914	Steamboat Rock Public Library 511 West Market Street Steamboat Rock, IA 641-868-2300	Union Public Library 406 Commercial Street Union, IA 641-486-5561