Take Note

Reading is taking off in Rochester, N.Y., with the success of a program run by the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority that puts children's books on the city's buses so children can read during the ride.

The transportation authority initiated "Books on Buses" in January 2001, with the goal of not only encouraging reading and giving young people a way to pass the time, but also of finding a way to involve the community and education groups, said agency Chief of Staff Mark Aesch.

"We've got hundreds of thousands of kids who ride our buses every year, and what a wonderful opportunity for them to either read a book themselves or have their parents read to them," said Mr. Aesch, who came...