The Florence Williams Public Library (FWPL) is one of 14 libraries nationwide selected to host the PRIME TIME FAMILY READING TIME reading, discussion and storytelling series offered by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities (LEH) in partnership with the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office.  The project, that will take place in the spring and fall of 2000, is funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).

            "This program is yet another example of how libraries provide vital services to diverse audiences in communities all over America,"  Said Dean Plaskett, Commissioner of the Dept. of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), the agency over libraries. "We are delighted to be a part of the national expansion of a project that is designed specifically for families including those that are underserved, to help their children bond with them by reading and learning together," said Claudette Lewis, Executive Assistant Commissioner of  DPNR.

             The FWPL will host PRIME TIME programming in the spring or fall.  Wallace Williams, Head Librarian for St.Croix Public Libraries, will coordinate the project, he is assisted by Joy Ayot, a Masters Degree candidate in English Linguistics at the University of Puerto Rico.  Dr. Roberta Knowles of the University of the Virgin Islands will serve as discussion leader assisted by Storyteller Jewel Ross Brathwaite, Assistant Principal at the Eulalie Rivera Elementary School.  Additional support is provided by Magda Smith, Executive Director of the Virgin Islands Humanities Council and the Janice Daniels, VISTA/AmeriCorp USVI Reads project at the library. 

              PRIME TIME, is based on illustrated children's books, is designed to teach parents and children to read  and discuss humanities topics and aids them in selecting books and becoming active public library users.  It is based on a successful series of the same name that began in 1991 at the Baton Rouge, Louisiana Public Library and spread to surrounding states with NEH funding.  Nearly 23,000 individuals have participated in more than 70 PRIME TIME sessions in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Arkansas.

              Each PRIME TIME series will take place once a week for six weeks.  Reading and discussion leaders will conduct 90-minute sessions at public libraries for parents or guardians and their children.  At each session, a storyteller will present stories and will model reading aloud.  A humanities scholar will serve as the discussion leader.  The library representative will introduce families to library resources and services.  Younger siblings will participate in separate pre-reading activities.

              Multiple books will be provided for each program.  Libraries will receive funding for scholar, storyteller and reader honoraria.  Posters and brochure and flyers will also be provided.