Grand Island Public Library marks 20 years of hosting Humanities Nebraska Prime Time Family Reading Programs with new session this fall

Grand Island, NE – Humanities Nebraska is partnering with the Grand Island Public Library to bring bilingual Prime Time Family Reading to local families again this fall.

Prime Time is a family literacy program that helps strengthen participants’ interest and skills in reading and talking about books. A definitive 10-year analysis published by the creators of Prime Time Family Reading found that children who attended Prime Time outperformed their peers on standardized tests in elementary through high school.

There will be two concurrent Prime Time programs at the Grand Island Public Library this fall: one for preschool-aged children and their families on Saturday mornings, and one for elementary-aged children and their families on Monday nights.

Preschool Prime Time for children ages 3-5 and their families will be held on Saturday mornings from 11am -12:30 p.m. at the Grand Island Public Library starting Saturday, September 12. Preschool Prime Time runs for six weekly sessions through October 17.

Elementary Prime Time Family Reading will be held on Monday nights from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Grand Island Public Library. The program begins Monday, September 14 and runs for six weekly sessions through October 19.

Space is limited and registration is required. Interested families may visit or call the Library at (308) 385-5333 to register before the first program session on September 12 (preschool) or September 14 (elementary).

Registration for Prime Time is free and open to all families and their children ages 3-10. Preschool childcare is provided for younger siblings ages 3-5 at the Monday night elementary-aged program.

Each weekly session begins with a family meal, followed by storytelling and discussion based on award-winning children’s books in both English and Spanish that have been sent home the previous week.

Prime Time is offered without cost to families thanks to many funders, donors and community partners, including the following generous statewide sponsors:

Humanities Nebraska
State of Nebraska
Nebraska Cultural Endowment
National Endowment for the Humanities
Sherwood Foundation
H. Lee & Carol Gendler Family Fund
Carol & Roger Lewis
Union Bank & Trust
Anonymous Donor
Grand Island Public Library
Grand Island Public Library Foundation

Since 2002, more than 21,000 Nebraskans have participated in one or more of the 500 bilingual and English-only Prime Time Family Reading and Prime Time Preschool series held in 19 communities throughout the state.

Teachers who are interested in recommending families for Prime Time or families interested in taking part should contact the Grand Island Public Library and ask to speak with Youth & Family Services Librarian Laura Fentress at (308) 385-5333. For more information about Prime Time, visit the Humanities Nebraska web site, www.HumanitiesNebraska.org, and select “Prime Time” from the programs list.