Tuscarawas County Public Library System Children's Services Manager Linda Uhler presents a book to Shannon Moore of Gnadenhutten and son Parker at Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital. (Submitted)

New Philadelphia, Ohio - The Tuscarawas County Public Library System is continuing to promote early childhood literacy by putting books in the hands of Tuscarawas County parents.

Since 2008, the library has been providing books to new parents through the Books for Babies Trust Fund started by New Philadelphia native and former librarian Better Lou Honaker.  Director Michelle McMorrow Ramsell says they use 90 percent of the interest income from this fund to purchase books for Tuscarawas County newborns, with the rest reinvested to help sustain the program. 

Money from the fund was recently used to provide 51 books to Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital for new parents to take home and read to their infants. Children's Services Manager Linda Uhler says they’re hoping to increase the number of books as the fund continues to grow. 

The library system also encourages families to take part in 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten, a nationwide challenge that promotes early reading and parent-child bonding by encouraging parents to read to their newborns, infants, and toddlers. Parents can sign up for free at any of the library system’s five locations. Participating parents will receive reading logs to help them keep track of their child’s reading milestones and children will be awarded small prizes for every milestone reached. 

For more information on donating to the Books for Babies Trust or to participate in the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, call the library at 330-364-4474 or visit www.tusclibrary.org.