Natchez &8212; The McLaurin Elementary School library got about 40 new patrons Wednesday.

In the ongoing attempt to promote reading and parental involvement, the school opened up its library to parents and issued them library cards of their very own.

&8220;The purpose is to get parents to read with their children at home,&8221; Title I Parent Liason Cookie Givens said. &8220;Everything you deal with is related to reading.&8221;

Givens encouraged parents to read with their children at least 20 minutes a day.

An hour and a half into Wednesday&8217;s special event 25 parents had come. After signing up for a card they could browse with or without their child and pick out five books to take home.

They also received an activity sheet with questions on story structure for the children.

Fourth-grader Trelicia Mealey and her mom picked out four chapter books from the American Girls Collection.

&8220;We are trying to improve her reading,&8221; Toshula Mealey said. &8220;I&8217;m here to show her we can both do it together.&8221;

Linda Steen Myrick doesn&8217;t have any trouble getting granddaughter Ariel Steen to read, she said.

&8220;She reads to her dog and her bird and herself,&8221; Myrick said. &8220;I&8217;m glad she likes to read. They learn so much more by just reading.&8221;

Parents can keep their books for two weeks, or renew them. Once those are returned, more can be checked out.

Parents can also keep track of the number of times they visit the library and be eligible for prizes at the end of the year if they complete their visit chart.

&8220;I know reading is important for parents and children,&8221; mom Jennifer Matthews said. &8220;They need to read so they can succeed.&8221;

Matthews said her fourth-grader Jevon Johnson usually reads books to her, and she helps with the big words.

&8220;I&8217;m trying to find something he&8217;ll like,&8221; she said. &8220;He likes books with sports. I don&8217;t want anything with words too long because he&8217;ll get bored.&8221;

The school library opens at 7 a.m. each day and is open until the children leave school. Wednesday&8217;s event was organized by the school&8217;s resource personnel and the AmeriCorps team.