By Sharon Turco
The Cincinnati Enquirer

In the new reading room named for her, Hope Taft explores books Thursday afternoon with Kimberly Miller, 11 (left) and her sister Keishawna, 12. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

Two years ago, Hamilton County Juvenile Court Judge Sylvia Hendon sat near Ohio's first lady, Hope Taft, at a luncheon. Taft mentioned what kind of an impact a reading room could have in a juvenile court.

Thursday, Taft was on hand for the dedication of the Hope Taft Reading Center on the sixth floor of the juvenile court building.

"I'm so happy they took an idea I had, the seed I planted and made it blossom," Taft said.

She hopes quiet reading time will help alleviate fears children might have about why they're at the courthouse - often for custody and neglect cases.

Employees and others who visit the courthouse donated the books; a $300 donation from Fifth Third Bank also helped.

Keishawna Miller, 12 and her sister Kimberly, 11, of Bond Hill, rushed into the reading center.

"It's beautiful," Kimberly said.

"You sit at court and there's nothing to do," Keishawna added.

The girls' mother, Bernadette Miller, 35, recently gained custody of the children, so the trio has spent a lot of time at the courthouse.