EDUCATION Minister Jan O’Sullivan found herself in front of a very literary audience when she launched the Public Libraries’ Summer Reading Programme in Dooradoyle Library on Tuesday.
The Summer Reading Programme encourages children to continue reading during their summer break from school and helps to minimise the so-called ‘summer slide’, whereby reading achievement deteriorates without the regular practice acquired through school work.
The Minister encouraged parents and children to go to their nearest library and join the programme.
The popular Summer Reading Programmes run in public libraries across the country every July and August for children of all ages and abilities.
More than 50,000 children took part in their local programme last year.
Each child chooses books they want to read, keeps a record of their progress and gets recognition for each step along the way.
At the end of the programme, all children who have participated get a certificate of achievement at a special awards event.
The Summer Reading Programme also provides the whole family with an opportunity to explore the full range of events and facilities which are available in their local library, such as story time sessions, book clubs, children’s activities, access to talking books and games, workshops, computers and Internet access, and of course children’s books for all ages.
For further information, contact librariesdevelopment@lgma.ie or your local library (see details on www.librariesireland.ie).
