Program news: Phoenix

While I can't always get out to the libraries to check out their summer programs, the libraries often keep me in the loop via e-mail. This latest program update comes from Phoenix Public Library, which has partnered with the Phoenix Police Department to offer something new to their community - police officers reading to children.

Officer Joseph Marotta reads to the group at Phoenix Public Library.

Library director Noreen Patterson says: "The officers read books that we provide - for example, Officer Marotta read If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Joffe Numeroff, and Officer Neary read Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert.  The officers read a title for story time at 11am on Monday and a story at 1 pm at the start of the SRP.  Investigator Marotta read last Thursday at 1 pm during our stuffed animal sleepover. They are on duty officers - they interact with the children, read a story or two and return to duty. This is new  and the second week we have had the officers visit the library. Our police force is made up of PT officers from other forces around the area for the most part. I am glad the library is one way to connect the officers to this community and I am thrilled to have community leaders as reading role models for our children."