This innovation addressed the importance of literacy. Currently, the city of El Paso has a low literacy rate, and by educating parents on the importance of the implementation of reading to their child and with their child, we were able to encourage reading outside of the library while making a positive impact on the literacy rate.

This program utilized Ritmo Audio Belts, BellyBooks and Playaways. Ritmo Audio Books are pregnancy audio belts designed specifically for prenatal use that delivered the connected Playaway stories and songs at a safe decibel level directly to baby. This program educated expectant parents on the importance of literacy, as well as provided the equipment necessary to do so inside and outside of the library and also at University Medical Centers.

The anticipated outcome of this program was to educate expectant parents on the importance of early literacy practices to their expected child as we provided them with the resources to do so as early as 17 weeks within the womb. Also, to develop a routine that encouraged parents to continue to read with their child throughout their entire childhood which contributed to a positive impact on their child’s literacy.