Libraries, local schools and restaurants work together to increase literacy

Local schools, public libraries and businesses are working together to give Franklin County children an incentive to read more.

Franklin County Public Library Director Anne Birchwell said the libraries and the schools had joined together to create a local program similar to the 30 year old Pizza Hut Book-It program in which students can win free pizza for meeting certain reading goals.

The problem is there is no Pizza Hut in Franklin County, in fact the closest one is about 40 miles away, so it wasn’t as strong as an incentive as educators would like.

Now, however, three local restaurants have agreed to provide free meals to students who meet their reading goals.

The restaurants are AJs in Apalachicola, Bayside Burgers in Eastpoint and Hog-Wild BBQ in Carrabelle.

The partnership will also include the Apalachicola Bay Charter School and the 1^st Baptist School.

Home schooled children will also be eligible to take part.

Miss Birchwell said she is very excited about the community partnership and hopes to do many more partnerships with the schools.

The program starts September the 15^th and runs through next May.

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