Reading Partners / PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE

* Mission: Introducing children to the pleasure and empowerment of reading.

Virtually every afternoon, dozens of older adults fan out to libraries across Los Angeles to share the joys of reading with children.

But the idea isn’t only about reading to children. It’s about youngsters reading too.

The Los Angeles Public Library offers Grandparents and Books at the Central Library downtown and at its 67 branches across the city.

In all, more than 200 volunteers read to children each month through the program.

Since its inception nearly a decade ago, Grandparents and Books has sent 948 volunteers into libraries. They have read to 270,257 children, logging 95,734 hours of service.

Adults and children read to each other in English, Spanish, Chinese and other languages.

The program has attracted a big following over the years.

Several cities have asked how they can copy it, including New York, Chicago and Seattle. The program has even received inquiries from New Zealand and Australia.

Now the program is looking for new volunteers, who will undergo six hours of training before they begin reading with children. Information: (213) 228-7487.

* Quote: “I want to open their horizons beyond what they get in school. It’s a joy for me. The reaction of the children is 100% pure friendliness. The younger ones treat me like I’m a grandfather.”

--Robert Blumenthal, volunteer