The 1,000 Book Club encourages parents to read to their children because studies suggest that children who are exposed to 1,000 pieces of good literature between the ages of three and six will do better academically in school.

The program collection is located at Jefferson Elementary School in a bookroom just outside the Primary School Main Office.

In order to participate, a child must be between the ages of three and six and a Schalmont resident. A parent or guardian can register their child in the program by filling out a short form available in the bookroom. Families can then take home one of 100 numbered tote bags filled with 10 children’s books. Families can return the bag after they done to pick up another one.

The timeline for completing the program is flexible, but the goal is for each child to have listened to all 1,000 stories by the start of first grade or sooner. When a child has completed the program, he or she will receive a hat for completing the program.

While participating in the self-service program, families are expected to:

• Keep track of which tote bags they’ve borrowed by checking off the numbers (1-100) on their child’s registration form.
• Return the sign-out sheet to the book tote bag when it is returned.
• Return a checked-out book bag within a three-week period.
• Replace or pay for any lost or damaged books or bags.