Patten Free Library received a grant from the Alfred M. Senter Fund to purchase six iPads for use in an early literacy program.

Beginning in February, library staff will offer small, supervised classes to preschoolers and their parents. Registration for the classes begins Jan. 11.

“ We’re so excited by the opportunities that this generous grant from the Senter Fund will provide the library and the communities we serve,” library director Lesley Dolinger said in a release. “ There are many, many preschool- aged children in our service area that could benefit from early literacy classes. And iPads have been found to be very effective teaching tools for this purpose.

“We plan to select ‘apps’ for the iPads that will help our preschool patrons recognize and write letters and numbers, learn letter sounds and sight words, and build vocabulary and reading fluency,” Dolinger continued.

The library plans to offer classes throughout the year as demand warrants, and will organize class groups based on age and skill levels.

Initially, classes will be offered only at the library, but outreach librarian Roberta Jordan hopes that the library will quickly begin to offer classes at pre- school sites throughout its service area, the release states.

For more information, call Jordan at 443-5141, extension 25.