When a child arrives for a checkup on the Austin campus of Mayo Clinic Health System — Albert Lea and Austin, the child’s provider first gives him or her not an examination or a vaccination, but a book.

The program is Reach Out and Read, and it is possible on the Austin campus thanks to donations from the Mayo Clinic Health System Austin Health Care Foundation and the Austin Rotary Club.

“The Austin Health Care Foundation is pleased to partner with the Austin Rotary Club on this meaningful effort to promote families reading together,” Mary Anne Wolesky, Foundation and Development Director on the Albert Lea and Austin campuses, said in a press release. “The positive impact of the provider joining in on that effort enhances the whole experience as a happy and joyful part of the visit for the child and parent. The providers love this as well.”

Research shows that the first five years of life are critical for learning literacy skills, and 90 percent of children visit a medical center for their well child appointments.

“The provider begins the appointment by giving the child an age-appropriate book,” Michelle Bumgardner, R.N. and site coordinator of the program, said in the release. “So not only are we promoting literacy, we’re establishing a positive relationship between the child and family and the provider.”

Promoting literacy and establishing strong familial relationships are two of the reasons the Austin Rotary Club chose to become involved in the program.

“The Austin Rotary Club has had a literacy focus for many years,” Amy Baskin, Austin Rotary Club treasurer, said in the release. “We are especially interested in early literacy and are honored to partner with Mayo and other community organizations in an effort to increase the literacy skills of the Austin community.”

“Austin Rotary club distributed dictionaries to every third grade student in Austin for more than 10 years,” she added. “Our recent shift to early literacy is a result of the research that shows the impact and importance of early literacy.”