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From left to right, Mireya Parades, age 5 and Tyanna Hair, age 4 look at books in their Cherokee Nation Head Start classroom in Tahlequah.

TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA – The Cherokee Nation recently added lending libraries to all of their Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms. The lending libraries are available for students to check out books to take home and read and return when they are finished.

"Providing these lending libraries advances the (Cherokee Nation) Early Childhood Unit’s goals of parent involvement and ensuring that every child believes in the value of books and the importance of reading," said Norma Harvey, Cherokee Nation public education coordinator.

The Cherokee Nation operates Head Start centers in Big Cabin, Sallisaw, Stilwell, Nowata, Vinita, Shady Grove, Maryetta, Jay, Okay, Cherry Tree, Kenwood, Moseley, Webbers Falls, Salina, Lowrey, Tahlequah, Pryor, Sperry, Lost City and Inola.

Reading Is Fundamental (RIF) and Honda provided $8,750 in grant money to purchase the books for the lending libraries

"RIF prepares and motivates children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to those children and families who need them most," Harvey said.

For more information on the Cherokee Nation Head Start and Early Head Start lending libraries, contact Ramona Drew, phone: 918-458-4393 (ext. 223).

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org