Delaware's first lady brings reading tour to Harrington library

HARRINGTON — The state’s first lady, Tracey Quillen Carney, paid a visit to the Harrington Public Library on Thursday during her reading tour through Delaware.

Her journey was launched Wednesday at the Wilmington Public Library, during its bilingual story time. Ms. Carney also visited the Selbyville Public Library before making her stop in Harrington.

Her purpose was to highlight the importance of literacy, as well as services offered by Delaware’s public libraries. Harrington’s facility received $5.6 million of American Rescue Plan Act funding in February 2022 to build a new site, opening this fall.

During the tour, Ms. Carney also introduced her new publication, “Books for Blue,” which tells the story of the state libraries’ bird mascot and his journey to get his first library card.

“It’s not about this book, but it is about the importance of early literacy and early brain development towards school readiness,” Ms. Carney said. “We are never going to get to that third grade benchmark if we don’t start way before kindergarten.”

She added that she hopes to not only raise awareness of literacy but also of healthy connections with loved ones via reading.

“One thing that I always talk about that I wished we talked about more ... is how literacy activities can encourage healthy attachment with young children and their caregivers,” Ms. Carney said. “You have a kid on your lap, and you’re reading a book in an interactive way. And I think healthy attachment is a foundation.”

The first lady said she hopes the new Harrington Public Library will become a convenient place for residents to gather.

“Twenty-first-century libraries are different,” she added. “They are very much centers for community. So, these newly designed libraries are designed as libraries that are better able to serve the community through community spaces. They have computers that are used the way we use computers now. They have kids’ rooms.”

Additionally, Ms. Carney credited Annie Norman, the state librarian, for guiding the various locations across Delaware to become so modern.

For information, visit lib.de.us .