Literacy bus comes to SouthShore

The next stop for the literacy bus — also known as MILO, the Mobile Interactive Literacy Opportunity — will be the SouthShore Regional Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way in Ruskin, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

As part of the event, the Junior League of Tampa will provide free books, allowing children to select titles they would like to take home to begin their home libraries.

The MILO Initiative consists of programs offered one Saturday each month in neighborhoods throughout Hillsborough County. The programs focus on ages 3 to 8 and encourages families to get a free Hillsborough public library card.

"This will reinforce to the students that reading isn't just something that happens in school; it's a lifetime experience, and the summer is as good a time as any to get into reading," Hillsborough school board member Doretha Edgecomb said in unveiling the program in May. "I want kids to really enjoy reading and not get hung up on the skills involved, but really just enjoy finding a book you want to read over and over."

Partners in the program include the Children's Board of Hillsborough County, the Tampa-Hills­borough County Public Library, the Junior League of Tampa and WEDU-Ch. 3.

For more information, go to jltampa.org.