LIVERPOOL — Many elements about her responsibilities as a children’s librarian at the Liverpool Public Library make Amanda Riccardo smile. What’s not to like when the Carman Community Room or tent on the Dinosaur Garden lawn are filled with happy children, parents and caregivers learning and growing at her popular events Baby Time, Sensory Bins for Toddlers, Sensory Story Time, Toddler Toy Time,. and Stretches and Stories?

In the past few months, Riccardo also has spotted an increase in requests for children to sign up for the LPL’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program. In July, Riccardo said, 18 children were registered, the most in one month since she took over the program this spring.

The program starter kit, which every family receives when signing up at the LPL, includes informational handouts from local group Help Me Grow Onondaga and national organizations Association for Library Services to Children and the Public Library Association.

“Trying to encourage reading literacy at that age is so important,” Riccardo said.

The LPL’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program awards a prize to the participating child for every 100 books read. The kit a parent or caregiver receives at the LPL Children’s Room desk includes sheets to log books. Families can also register to participate and log books read through the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten page on our website, at LPL.org/1000Books. The prizes are claimed at the Children’s Room desk.

At the 100-book level, the child receives a nice cloth bag. At subsequent 100-book levels, prizes include toys and books. When receiving the prize at the LPL, the children can hold up a sign provided by the LPL for a photo opportunity for parents and caregivers.

“The kids get very excited for the prizes,” Riccardo said. “Oliver just got to hold up our special sign for reaching 1,000 books in August. It was very exciting for everybody.”