How do I sign up for Reading Buddies?

Applications are available here or at the Louisville Library Children's Desk.

How do I know if you received my application?

We will call you about a week before the program begins to confirm that you have a spot in the program, or that you are on the waitlist. Since we don't know how many spots will be available until we confirm Big Buddy applicants, we will not know whether you are in the program until this point. If you want to confirm that your application was recieved, you can contact us.

What are the dates for the Fall 2010 program?

There are three fall programs:

• Sunday afternoons from 2:00 to 3:00, from September 12th  through November 14th
• Sunday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:30, from September 12th  through November 14th
• Monday afternoons from 4:30 to 5:30, from September 13th through November 15th

Little Buddies can sign up for any session; Big Buddies can sign up for any session or all three if they wish. If there is not space in the session you prefer, we will contact you and ask if you want to switch to the other sessions.

What if I can't make a session?

We ask Buddies to commit to attending at least 8 of the 10 sessions; of course, uxpected emergencies and illnesses always come up. If you know ahead of time about an absence, please let us know the week before so we can make alternative arrangements for your Buddy. If an emergency comes up, please contact Kelsey (303-666-4025) or the library (303-335-4821) immediately.

Will I always have the same Buddy?

Yes. You meet with the same Buddy every week. If your Buddy is gone for one session, you will get a substitute Buddy for that session only. You can indicate Buddy preferences (gender, age, Spanish-speaking, ect.) on your application, but Buddies will be assigned by us before the first session.

What exactly do the Buddies do at each session?

The Buddies read together one-on-one for 45 minutes. They will also do reading comprehension activities and play reading-related games. For the last 15 minutes of the session, all of the Buddies will play a group reading game, such as a library scavenger hunt or a group mad-libs type game. During the last 15 minutes, the Buddies will also prepare a short presentation which they will perform for the parents on the day of the last session.

Other questions? Contact us.