Reading at the Barbershop

Solano County Library is bringing books to barbershops!

Reading at the Barbershop helps boys learn to enjoy reading so that they can read to learn. Every participating barbershop has age-appropriate reading material to help young boys identify as readers by helping to increase their vocabulary, boosting their confidence, getting them comfortable with public speaking, and building relationship and networking skills by talking to the grown-ups around them.

Why is this important?

In California, boys are failing to meet the minimum reading and writing standards. Several studies have shown that boys tend to view school as a female pursuit and depict reading and writing as not being masculine. The program helps eliminate this by having more supportive males to connect with, right in their communities. Reading at the Barbershop is intended to build a sense of community that minority boys will need in order to “want” to read. We want to encourage you to be reading role models – family members and other trusted men who read the books will inspire and set the tone for the younger males reading experience.

Students who read just once or twice a month score higher reading levels than students who never read for fun. Boys that make one or two trips to the barbershop per month can significantly improve their reading scores.

Funding for this program comes from California Library Services Act, California State Library Families for Literacy, and First 5 Solano.