Real Men Read – A library led reading initiative program

Abstract

The goal of the Real Men Read initiative was to provide Pre-K-6 students, especially boys, the opportunity to meet male mentors from the William Paterson University community who have a love of reading and learning. Mentors read grade appropriate books to Pre-K-6 classes in northern New Jersey school districts. The initiative was organized by the David and Lorraine Cheng Library and partnered with the university’s College of Education to identify and place mentors at nearby schools. The successful initiative brought mentors to different schools and elicited a positive response from all the elementary classes involved.

Keywords:

• Real Men Read
• library outreach
• male mentors
• library-school partnership
• New Jersey