Farmington Public Library Foundation
Literacy Programs
Literacy ratings for San Juan County rank 23% of our population at a level 1 literacy rate, the lowest literacy rate – level 5 being the highest ranking.
Of particular note is that 52% of San Juan County is either at a level 1 or level 2 literacy ranking, which means that the majority of our residents are at the two lowest levels of literacy.
Prime Time Family Reading Time
Prime Time is a 6 week reading, discussion, and storytelling program held at the library or other venue. A scholar (who functions as a discussion leader) and storyteller conduct weekly book discussion and storytelling sessions based on award-winning children’s books.
First Things First: Kids and Libraries
This program provides provides San Juan County first graders and their families with an introductory tour of the library, a library card and a book bag. This program has reached over 4,000 first graders.
Baby’s First Library Card
San Juan Regional and the Northern Navajo Medical Center have cooperated with the library on the Baby’s First Library Card program. Read-Aloud programs for new parents and introductory resources are provided. The Library Foundation and local Federated Women’s Club support this important literacy program.
The Shiprock Branch and the Boys & Girls Club Power Library
The Farmington Public Library and the Farmington Boys and Girls Club have cooperated on a joint project to develop and maintain a traditional library setting at the Farmington Boys and Girls Club. The result is the Power Library. The Farmington Public Library provides furnishings, book materials and programming; the Farmington Boys and Girls Clubs provides kids that were previously non-library users. The Power Library’s resources are primarily homework support utilizing on-line resources.
The Shiprock Branch Library serves as an additional outreach program for the Farmington Public Library in Shiprock and has expanded to introduce community members to the Library. The Branch Library serves as a much needed community library and promotes family literacy programming on the Navajo Reservation.
Storyteller, Author and Illustator Programs
Stories illustrate traditional wisdom and positive vision while promoting the ancient art of storytelling.
Four Corners Storytelling Festival
The storytelling festival highlights the cultural heritage of storytelling in our community. Each year both national and local storytellers perform at the festival providing attendees of all ages with an opportunity to share in this traditional art form that has such a rich local heritage.
Author and Illustrator Programs
Children and teen book author and illustrator visits provide inspiration and encouragement for reading and writing. Author and illustrator visits have included nationally known children’s author and illustrator Steven Kellogg, New Mexican author and storyteller Joe Hayes, author and storyteller Ed Stivender, Jewish folklorist Gerald Fierst, local author Uma Krishnaswami and local illustrator Anthony Chee Emerson.
Annual Summer Reading Program
The Farmington Public Library’s summer reading program was developed to encourage reading and library use during the months when children are out of school. Every summer the library sets the stage for keeping the eyes and minds of children of all ages busy and challenged.
The library creates a theme, produces a program calendar and promotes the program through schools on a county wide level. Young readers are rewarded with incentives as they read and reach their reading goals. Thousands of San Juan County youth have completed the program.
This wonderful program provides a summer of fun, imagination and opportunities for readers and pre-readers alike to explore books and literature to become lifelong library users.
