Beverly Hills : Story Time for Children

The children’s division of the Beverly Hills Library is looking for young children to participate in a new weekly reading program.

The Tale Bearers program matches children ages 4 to 8 with older children and teen-agers who read to them at the library, children’s librarian Toby Omens said.

The program, which was established this summer, has about 15 volunteers who donate half an hour on Sunday afternoons as a community service, Omens said. The readers range from sixth-graders to high school seniors who have gone through a library training program.

Some get school credit, but most do not, Omens said. “They feel wonderful. It’s a self-esteem thing.”

The Tale Bearers program has recruited enough readers but is looking for more listeners, Omens said. There are a couple of places in the library where volunteers can take two or three youngsters and curl up with a good book while parents catch up on their own reading.