Project Smyles

WE'RE GOING THE EXTRA MILE TO CONNECT CHILDREN TO THE WORLD OF IDEAS.

Children in the Youth Area

Project Smyles is an outreach project to children in Ames Public Library's service area. Its purpose is to provide library services to children from birth to age six along with their parents and childcare providers.

Project Smyles visits children where they are during the day— in daycares and preschools. Library staff present monthly storytimes and deliver library materials for the children’s use.

Children need a variety of skills to become successful readers. These “early literacy skills” are the building blocks for later reading and writing. Our goal is for children to increase their early literacy skills and become better prepared to enter school.

Each month, we highlight one of the six early literacy skills:

  • Print motivation 
  • Narrative skills
  • Print awareness
  • Vocabulary
  • Letter knowledge
  • Phonological awareness

Along with the storytime plan from the monthly visit, we send tips on using these skills at home.

Smyles plush toy

Donations for Project Smyles may be made to the Ames Public Library Friends Foundation.

You may also purchase Smyles toys and more at the Library or Bookmobile with all proceeds going to Project Smyles.

 

WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT:

Ames Noon Rotary, Jackie Comito/Joyful Hearts, Brian Packard/Vernon Promotions, Sigler Printing and Publishing, Story County Empowerment, Target, Theisen's, Union Pacific Railroad, and United Way of Story County Golf Fore Kids.