Glasgow families encouraged to love their local library

The Read, Write, Count campaign is encouraging families to visit their local libraries and make use of the valuable services they offer!

Article Source: Glasgow Life
Last Updated: 3 February 2016 19:10

The ‘Love Your Library’ campaign aims to inspire families to visit their local library and enjoy a range of free services that can make reading, writing and counting with their child an easy, fun and enjoyable experience.

In celebration of ‘Love Your Library’ and National Libraries Day, Cherry Campbell, star of CBeebies show Katie Morag, will be hosting an exclusive reading of her favourite children’s books at 2pm at Gorbals Library on Saturday 6th February. Families can drop into the free story time session where Cherry will be reading Slinky Malinky Catflaps, by Lynley Dodd, and Katie Morag and The Tiresome Ted, by Mairi Hedderwick.

Councillor Archie Graham OBE, Chair of Glasgow Life, said: “Libraries are perfectly placed at the very heart of communities; offering a gateway in to the magical world of stories and imagination whilst supporting young people and their families to spend time learning and playing together.

“With initiatives such as Read, Write, Count here in Glasgow, we hope to be able to support children and young people to love their library, harnessing the power of reading to create life-changing opportunities for our youngest citizens.”

“An enthusiasm for learning and a love of books is one of the most important gifts we can give our children. I would urge all families to head down to their local library to engage with the fantastic range of services on offer; services that allow Glasgow, and the people who live in this great city, to grow and prosper.”

Read, Write, Count is a Scottish Government-led campaign which aims to improve key numeracy and literacy skills among children in Primaries 1 to 3 across Scotland and has identified libraries as a key setting to support this.

As previously announced, the Scottish Government has allocated £198,000 of funding to support partnership work in libraries. As part of this every library in Scotland will receive a Read, Write, Count partnership pack containing library card holders, activity sheets, stickers, posters and other resources. Grants to buy new book stock and eye-catching book stands are also being provided to libraries in some of Scotland’s most deprived areas.

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Angela Constance was joined by Cherry and Councillor Graham, at the launch of the campaign today at Gorbals Library, Glasgow. She said: “The Scottish Government is proud to have partnered with libraries for the next phase of the Read, Write, Count campaign.

"We know learning doesn’t stop at the school gates and libraries play a crucial role in supporting early learning in communities across Scotland.

“During children’s critical first years of school reading, writing and counting together can support their learning and help with their concentration, behaviour and making friends. It can also boost their confidence and happiness.

“I want to support parents and make it easier for them to be involved in their child’s learning outside of school. Libraries don’t just provide reading material, they offer a welcoming environment for families to enjoy time together and help develop children’s literacy and numeracy skills.”

Cherry Campbell said: “When I was on Lewis filming Katie Morag, my parents and I would to go to the library to pick out books together. I loved it.”

“I’m going to read Slinky Malinky Catflaps at Gorbals Library, which is one of my favourite books from when I was little. I used to like it when my mum read it to me and the way she would read some of the words was hilarious. I’m also going to read a Katie Morag book because I have read them all and absolutely love the stories. I was over the moon when I found out that I had got the part of Katie Morag and couldn't stop jumping around.”

The national drive includes a new TV advert, supermarket advertising and a website that provides parents and carers with tips and advice about fun and interesting ways to boost counting and reading skills in a variety of every-day scenarios.

The campaign, which is being delivered in partnership with Education Scotland and Scottish Book Trust, builds on existing Scottish Government efforts to tackle educational inequalities and raise attainment in early years and beyond.

Read, Write, Count offers information on how you can bring fun and learning into everyday activities with your child to help them shine. Whether that be a visit to the local library, going to the shops, travelling to school or at mealtimes, Read, Write, Count has a wealth of ideas that will help children do their best at school. Visit www.readwritecount.scot or join Read, Write, Count on Twitter and Facebook for great tips, activities and ideas.