SCF Showcases Children’s Book Collection for National Book Lovers Day

The libraries at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) take early reading seriously by supporting the College’s Early Childhood Education curriculum and providing books for young readers, including picture books and national award-winning children’s books. Educators and librarians celebrate National Book Lovers Day, recognized on Aug. 9, because they know book lovers will develop a love for learning.

The SCF Libraries offer a special collection of children's books, available to students, faculty and staff. The collection includes most of the books that have won nationally recognized awards, such as the Caldecott and Newbery medals. The collection also contains many award-winning multicultural books, such as those that received the Coretta Scott King Book Award (for African-American literature) and the Pura Belpré Award (for Latino-American literature). Every book may be checked out for three weeks at a time.

The collection is particularly helpful to Education and Early Childhood students, many of whom are already working in daycare settings, who can use the books at their jobs and internships to prepare story times, classroom activities and lessons.

“We encourage our students to make reading a key element in their classrooms,” said April L. Fleming, director of education programs at SCF. “Introducing young children to reading early helps build a love of learning that will stay with them throughout their lifetimes. When you open a book, it leads to a lot of discussion. Reading can open different doors for exploration and learning.”

Fleming, who has two children, said she has instilled those habits at home. She said her daughter, who is 10, will go through a 150-page book in less than two days and ask for another. When she gets into a story, she doesn’t want to put the book down.

To learn more about the children's books awards, visit libguides.SCF.edu/bookawards. For more information about SCF Libraries’ book collection, visit the Library Catalog at SCFedu/library.