February is I Love To Read month, and the Portage Regional Library is always there to back up anything to promote strong reading in families.

"The Library doesn't really have a specific I Love to Read Month program because that's a school-based thing," says program coordinator Lori Mackedenski. "But what we really like to support everything that goes on the community. For the Library, I Love to Read is every month of the year. I'll be doing a few readings at different schools during the month. Sometimes I get invited to day cares, too, which is really fun."

Mackedenski explains our education system's built around students having strong reading skills. You can really help your child excel in any educational field by not just reading to kids, but writing lists with them and talking about words.

"Once they start learning math and word problems, if you're not a strong reader those word problems are really challenging," she explains. "If you try to learn a second language you really need to be a strong reader as well. The benefits are so many, and it all starts when you're really young. One of the things in developing literacy that many aren't aware of is being able to provide children access to a lot of books at all times. They are expensive, but a library membership lets you take out six books at a time. You'd be amazed at how many times kids will pick up books laying in your home and take a look at them. Just having them sitting out and available is a great way for kids to develop their literacy skills."