The National Association of Counties has presented the Lee County Library System's

"Born to Read" Project with a 2001 NACo Achievement Award.

"Born to Read " is a Lee County Library System community partnership project to encourage parents to read to their babies beginning at birth. The program targets teen parents and low income families. It teaches parents that reading to babies can be vital to proper brain development for success later in life, help create a positive bond with their children and build a better foundation for a love of learning and reading.

Library staff members Marilyn Graham, Youth Services Coordinator, and Denise Folke, "Born to Read" Project Coordinator, have developed and implemented the program, which is now in its third year of grant funding.

Several community groups and organizations are partners in the project: WIC (Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program), Lee County School District's LAMP (Lee Adolescent Mothers Program) and Early Intervention Programs, Child Care of Southwest Florida, the Fort Myers Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, and neighboring library systems.

"Born to Read" has delivered books, information, and reading incentives to thousands of young families in the area, and has succeeded in encouraging reading to our littlest residents.