Leon County children are getting visits from law enforcement officers who want to read them stories this week. A partnership between local law enforcement agencies and Leon County Libraries, the first-ever read-a-thon event is meant to bring the library experience into neighborhoods.
On Monday morning, Leon County Sheriff’s Deputy Jessica Ikner was walking through an apartment complex on the south end of town.
She tells a maintenance crew, “You see any kids, you send ‘em to me, OK?”
Before long, Ikner and Deputy Manda Google have rounded up seven children and brought them to the complex’s common room.
“These are my new friends. This is Peanut,” Google tells the deputies seated around a table.
It’s story time. The kids sit through three books. Capt. Steve Harrelson reads one about a lazy farmer and an industrious duck. The kids quack their way through the book.
Ikner says other sheriff’s deputies and Tallahassee police officers will be making similar visits around town.
“We know that they, a lot of times, sit around and watch TV or maybe not have anything to do,” she says. “They might be latchkey kids, which, they stay home during the day without their parent. This gives them an outlet and something to look forward to.”
At the event's kickoff at the Leon County main library, Tallahassee Police Maj. Lewis Johnson says he’s reminded of summers growing up in Lakeland.
“My mom and dad would take me to the Lakeland library, and that was my first introduction to reading these fabulous books that opened up my mind’s eye to unlimited possibilities," he says. "And that’s what we’re hoping this program will do, will give kids an opportunity to dream through books.”
After story time on the south side, the kids gather around boxes marked with grade levels to pick out their own books to take home.
Books were donated for the read-a-thon. The story time visits will continue throughout the week.