The Key to the World

If you’re reading this, you have the key to the world – you’re literate. Without this key most of the world is closed to you.

According to a study conducted in April 2018 by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Literacy, 32 million adults in the U.S. can't read. That's 14 percentof the population. 21 percent of adults in the U.S. read below a 5th grade level, and 19 percent of high school graduates can't read.

According to Michigan M-STEP data, less than 50% of Michigan’s 3rdgraders are proficient readers. A literary crises equals a public health crisis. Adults with poor literacy rates are more likely to have poor health, according to a report by the Center for Public Education.

“Early literacy is a major focus for the library,” said Jessica Keyser, Director of the Grosse Pointe Public Library. “Our story times, reader dog programs, summer reading and 1000 books before kindergarten are just a few examples of the importance we place on early literacy.”

Everyone who lives in Grosse Pointe is eligible for a free library card. And all the Library’s literacy programs are free and open to all residents. In fact, public libraries across the country offer a wide variety of free early literacy programs.

What can you do to help? The Early Literacy Task Forcehas agreed upon 10 essential practicesthat serve as a “minimum standard of care” to foster literate students and citizens.

One small step you can take is to get a library card and bring your children or grandchildren to your library’s literacy programs.