Communities of Readers South Dunedin kicks off

Children in South Dunedin aged 3-7 years will soon be receiving books to enjoy with their whānau as part of the Communities of Readers project which aims to build and cement the concept of reading for pleasure.

Books will be delivered to early childhood centres, schools and community organisations in South Dunedin for children to keep and to share and this project aims to provide a whole of community approach to reading for enjoyment.

Finding children’s books in the numerous languages spoken in South Dunedin has been a challenge that the National Library and its partners welcome.

This project is a partnership between The National Library, The Ministry of Education, The Dunedin City Council, (including the Dunedin Public Libraries and Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature), Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou and Kāti Huirapa Rūnaka ki Puketeraki and the Methodist Mission Southern.

Communities of Readers aims to demonstrate that by connecting the resources and expertise of local and national organisations, better reading outcomes for children and young people can be created and sustained.

National Librarian Bill McNaught says “Reading for pleasure has significant benefits such as improving reading, knowledge, empathy, creativity, wellbeing and social outcomes. It provides an important foundation for digital and critical literacies, crucial for participation in today’s complex information landscape.”

Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins says “It is exciting to see this project developed and delivered with our local community. We have an opportunity to make a real difference in young people’s lives when they read widely and well”.

Julie Anderson, Ministry of Education Director, Otago Southland says “This Communities of Readers project is focused on growing a lifelong love of reading, and books will be distributed to children and their families through schools and in the community.”

Dunedin Library Services Manager Bernie Hawke says, “through this project it is hoped that a love of reading will be kick started and that books will become part of the fabric of the children’s lives”.

The Read Share Grow project is part of the National Library’s Communities of Readers programme with four different communities across New Zealand supporting and encouraging young people to read for pleasure.