Thanks to a $9,900 grant administered by the Rural Maryland Council, Allegany and Queen Anne’s County Library have launched a program called Guys Read, which reaches out to fourth grade boys through their respective public school systems. In both counties a group of male volunteers has been recruited to read a special selection of books to the boys during their lunch period. In Allegany County volunteers from a variety races and backgrounds have been recruited ranging in age from their 20s to 70s. A pair of volunteers will read per school visit six participating schools for a total of 48 visits. In all, 114 boys will participate in the Allegany County Guys Read program. According to the U.S. Department of Education reading tests for the last 30 years show boys scoring worse than girls in every age group, every year. In addition, eighth grade boys are 50 percent more likely to be held back a grade than girls.
