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By Melanie Boerner, literacy coordinator Spokane County Library District

You can help a child improve their reading skills and gain confidence as a reader when you volunteer as a reading buddy. If you love reading and enjoy spending time with kids, consider volunteering.

The Reading Buddy Program pairs volunteers, as mentors, with elementary school students. Each reading buddy volunteer meets with a student once per week for eight weeks at the elementary school, either before or after the school day, to read together one-on-one and foster a love of reading.

The requirements for volunteers include the following: you must be age 16 or older, provide consent to a background check, attend an

By Jane Baker Spokane County Library District

Young people ages 6–18 can ride Spokane Transit buses for free with an STA Rider’s License, available now at the library.

The Rider’s License is a bus pass that allows kids to ride STA buses for free year-round until they turn 19 years old. These passes are for ages 6 through 18 (kids under age 6 already ride free).

The Rider’s License is free—just stop by the library with an ID (your library card counts!) and ask for the STA Rider’s License at the service desk. The passes are also available by visiting LINC, our mobile library.

You can pick up an STA Rider’s License at Spokane Valley Library (22 N Herald Rd) and Argonne Library (4322 N Argonne Rd). Passes are also available for pick up at the following libraries: Airway Heights, Cheney, Medical Lake, Moran Prairie, North Spokane, and

orientation, commit to at least one eight-week session, and apply online at www.scld.org/volunteer.

The next Reading Buddy session starts in fall 2023, and the Reading Buddy Volunteer Orientation for that session takes place online at 9am on Saturday, August 5.

During the orientation, we discuss how you can help a child improve their reading skills and gain confidence as a reader. We also go over the Reading Buddy and volunteer program in detail, including what to expect when visiting an elementary school and onboard LINC.

STA Rider’s Licenses can also be requested through the STA Youth and Student Passes web page at www.spokanetransit.com/fares- meeting a student, how to choose a book that’s a good fit for the reader, and how to read with your student. Registration is required for orientation, and you can sign up at www.scld.org/ reading-buddy-orientation. passes/student-passes/. You can find out more about the Rider’s Licenses and STA bus routes at Spokanetransit.com.

If you have any questions about volunteering for the Reading Buddy Program, please contact me by phone at 509.893.8408 or by email at mboerner@scld.org.

I hope you consider volunteering with the library to help young students improve their reading and learn to enjoy it as well.

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