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Finding the fun in fundamentals

Hernando County Library wants to show kids that reading is important and enjoyable through its Literacy Week.

Hernando County Library officials are hoping to convince young residents that reading is fun.

"One of our goals is to help everybody understand that reading is important," said Stacey Leggett, programming specialist for the Hernando County Public Library System. "We try to encourage reading and learning but still have fun while we're at it."

To that end, the library will hold its annual Hernando County Reading Festival on Saturday as a kickoff to Hernando County Literacy Week.

"We have games to keep kids engaged and the whole family can participate," Leggett said.

Because children's early experience with books can affect their learning later in life, Leggett said that connecting the idea of fun with reading is crucial.

"Parents should read to children at any age, even when they're infants," she said. "Even the pictures are shown to stimulate brain activity. We want parents to read to them and start the love of reading at an early age."

In conjunction with activities like Sheriff's Office canine unit demonstrations and an appearance by Bay News 9 meteorologist Mike Clay, library workers have made a list of books that might be of interest to children and their families.

"The important thing is to take a subject that is interesting to the child and turn that into a reason to read," said Leggett, who has added books like Joanna Foster's Dogs Working for People to the suggested reading list.

Literacy Week will continue through Feb. 27 with special designation for days like Tune Out TV Day, Buddy Reading Day, and Church Emphasis on Literacy.

Further information on Literacy Week is available through Hernando's adult reading program called H.E.A.R.T. Literacy at 797-7018.

The Hernando County Reading Festival is 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the West Hernando/S.T. Foggia Branch Library, 6335 Blackbird Ave., near Weeki Wachee. Call 540-3691.

- Joy Davis-Platt can be reached at 352 848-1435. Send e-mail to joy@sptimes.com