Booties, Blankets and a Book -- Hospital Gives Library Cards to Newborns

Booties, blankets and a board book -- babies born at Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital will go home with those essentials and more, thanks to the new Books for Babies program. Books for Babies, is a joint effort between the City of Arlington and Texas Health Arlington Memorial Hospital. Through Books for Babies, all infants born at Texas Health Arlington Memorial this year will receive a My First Library Card Pack, which includes a board book, a bag, library card, and a variety of hand outs. Mayor Robert Cluck, M.D. presented the first Books for Babies Library Card Pack Wednesday morning to one of Texas Health Arlington’s most recent arrivals. Two day old Mia Richardson now has her very own library card. ”Reading to a baby, even at the newborn stage, is one of the most important gifts parents can give their child,” said Yoko Matsumoto, Arlington Public Library Services Manager for Literacy. “When parents read with their baby, they are building a strong foundation of learning and development that will last a lifetime.” Matsumoto says so far, the program’s been a success. Parents are thrilled with the Books for Babies Pack and encouragement that goes along with it. “Babies feel love when they are cuddled in the arms of their parents reading a book. I would say that this is the best way to build a lasting bond.” http://myarlingtontx.com/2012/06/29/...al-hospital/0-

Any program that hypes up reading and involvement with the library is a great thing in my book! WOOT!

I loved reading to my girls from the moment they were born. I really miss that. I loved singing all the nursery rhymes to them too. MY favorite one was. One Misty Moisty Morning. my husband would always make a whip sound when I repeated the line about the man wearing leather. nursery rhymes are the best...I just bought my great neice, I am a Bunny and Chicken Soup With Rice, to celebrate her arrival..Those were two of my kids favorites. reading really is key to everything.

When my son was born three months ago they had a volunteer come in and talk to us about the importance of reading with babies. They gave us a free board book in a bag with different handouts and an application for a library card. I think it's a great program! A lot of people don't think about reading to young children since they "can't understand." I think it sets a great foundation for reading as they get older.

Awesome program.

That's a great program!