Literacy for life Foundation

Suggestions for Bag Making

Choose a sturdy, colorful, washable fabric suitable for small children. Do not put drawstrings on the bags as that can be a safety issue. Material is available at the High River Library or call Literacy for Life Foundation at 652-5090 or literacy@telus.net.

1. Cut a piece of fabric approximately 38" by 14"
2. Finish all the edges. (pink, serge…..)

3. Fold under about 2” top and bottom. Press.

4. Fold in the middle right sides together and stitch sides. Turn bag right side out.
5. Prepare 2 handles – about 14” by 2” finished.
   (No string handles for safety reasons) the handles are like the ones on a cloth shopping bag.
6. Attach handles to bag
7. Drop off at designated locations.
   • Health Unit Offices in Black Diamond, High River, Okotoks
   • High River Library, Okotoks Public Library, Millarville Community Library, Blackie Community Library, Sheep River Library

Thank you for you contribution to the Books for Babies Program.

Are you looking for a volunteer activity?

The Books for Babies Committee is looking for people in the Municipal District of Foothills #31 to sew bags for the Books for Babies Program. We are looking for individuals or groups looking for a service project. Any number you contribute to this worthwhile project would be appreciated.

Directions for making bags and where to drop the bags off are at the top of this page.

The Books for Babies Committee is a group of people that work together to raise money and organize the Books for Babies Program. This group is made up of community members and representatives from agencies.

Agencies involved are:

What is Books for Babies?

• All parents with new babies that live in the Municipal District of Foothills receive a bag which includes a board book, scholastic book, baby’s first library card, information on reading to your baby and things to do and watch for in the baby’s growth.
• Public Health Nurses give out the bags at the first visit or 2-month visit depending on the health unit office.
• An envelope is also given out to parents at the 18-month visit. This includes another book, a new library membership, and information on child development and eye care.

Why is this program important?

• 1 in 3 adults in Alberta have reading skills that limit their ability to deal with much of the written material they encounter every day. One in seven adults is at the lowest literacy level. They have serious difficulty dealing with printed materials.
• Research has shown there is a close link between literacy and the status of an individual’s health and their social and emotional well being.
• Parents are their child’s first and most important teachers. Literacy development begins at birth. Language development is key to the child learning to read and write.

Librarians report an increase in the number of Board Books parents are asking for to read to their babies. The bags are well used by the parents that receive them and are a familiar sight at the libraries. Two years after mother child pairs received guidance and a book they were two times more likely to report enjoyment in reading then the controls that received guidance and no book.

Phone: 403-652-5090
Literacy for Life Foundation
web site: www.litforlife.com
literacy@telus.net