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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Factsheet |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Factsheet |
PRINCE GEORGE – Libraries across B.C. are celebrating Family Literacy Day today with events that promote the importance of reading as a family, announced Education Minister Shirley Bond.
“Libraries are a cornerstone of government’s new ReadNow BC literacy action plan,” Bond said prior to taking part in a family storytime at her local library. “Libraries offer a range of programs and services in 240 branches around B.C. They are fundamental to helping ensure we have British Columbians who have the reading skills to be successful in today’s society.”
Libraries have scheduled a variety
of events to mark Family Literacy Day, including a Write On! event with
students and authors in downtown Vancouver, prize giveaways in libraries across
Vancouver Island and special storytelling times from Prince George to Victoria.
To support local libraries and increase library access for all British Columbians, the Province this year has provided $4.25 million for BC OneCard and AskAway, a virtual reference service.
The BC OneCard program allows library patrons who may belong to smaller libraries with fewer resources to access services at any library in the province – large or small. Patrons with a BC OneCard can also borrow a book from any library in the province, and return it at their local library.
The AskAway virtual reference service expands equal access to high-quality knowledge by making a trained reference librarian available live, on the web, to anyone in British Columbia.
“Public libraries are centres of reading for communities and are constantly working to build the literacy level of British Columbia,” said Lawrence Lavender, president of the British Columbia Library Trustees’ Association. “Since the Province’s 2004 Strategic Plan for Libraries, provincial partnership has brought a number of innovative programs and initiatives that are making a big difference for libraries and communities across B.C.”
These library programs support the ReadNow BC literacy plan. The $27-million first phase of the plan was announced yesterday at the Premier’s Literacy Summit. ReadNow BC is helping British Columbians develop better literacy skills by providing reading readiness funding for Strong Start early learning centres and the Ready, Set, Learn kindergarten readiness program. ReadNow BC builds on the Province’s existing investments in literacy.
The Province is committed to reaching its goal of making B.C. the
best-educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent. Since 2001, more
than $92 million has been invested in new literacy programs and services,
including $15.6 million for public libraries, $4.7 million for adult literacy
and $10 million for textbooks.
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Public Affairs Bureau Ministry of Education 250 387-6940 250 920-9040 (cell) |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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