Community invited to launch of National Year of Reading 2012 on 14 February
Published on Wednesday 1 February, 2012
Community members are invited to come along to the official launch of the National Year of Reading on Tuesday 14 February at 4pm at Sunshine Library, 301 Hampshire Road, Sunshine.
Special guest author John Marsden, together with Chair of Brimbank Administrators Mr Peter Lewinsky will officially launch Brimbank’s 2012 National Year of Reading program at a celebration that will include giveaways, lucky door prizes, temporary tattoos, a fun competition for adults and children, a book shaped cake at no charge. One lucky winner will also win signed copies of John Marsden’s books.
Chair of Brimbank Administrators Mr Peter Lewinsky encouraged community members to come along and enjoy the launch activities.
“Our launch of the 2012 National Year of Reading offers community members an opportunity to meet international bestselling author John Marsden, and also enjoy a whole range of fun activities.
“I’d also like to tell book lovers to remember to bring along their favourite book and be photographed for the Brimbank Booklovers Gallery.
“I will be bringing along ‘Power Without Glory by Frank Hardy. It’s a great Australian book that chronicles the social fabric of Melbourne before it became the cosmopolitan hub it is today.”
Other event highlights will be an opportunity to sit in the special Reading Chair with a book from the new HOT Reads collection which will also be launched on the day. This new collection is especially for people in a hurry with 30-40 of the hottest titles will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Tuesday 14 February is also Library Lovers Day – and so customers are encouraged to borrow from displays of romance books, movies and music, or even get a Library Lovers Day temporary tattoo.
The National Year of Reading (NYR) 2012 is a collaborative venture by Australian libraries and the Australian Library and Information Association. It will run through to October 2012.
Mr Peter Lewinsky said the 14 February launch celebration marks the beginning of a range of programs and events to promote a reading culture in Brimbank.
“There is nothing as enjoyable and beneficial as reading, and book-lovers will attest to the fact that a good book can open new worlds.
“The National Year of Reading is expected to make a significant impact on people’s attitudes and behaviours towards reading and learning and encourage a more widespread reading culture across the municipality.
“Our Brimbank libraries will build on existing reading programs and together with school and community partners develop new literacy initiatives to work towards creating a community of lifelong learners in Brimbank,” Mr Lewinsky said.
Family literacy is a key target for NYR and one of the key objectives of the project will encourage parents to read to their children every day to assist in the development of pre-literacy skills.
NYR is about children learning to read and keen readers finding new sources of inspiration. It’s about Australians becoming a nation of readers.
The program is based on the UK’s successful NYR in 2008 which achieved 6,000 events, 2.3 million new public library members and 5% more parents from these groups saying they read with their children every day.
The National Year of Reading 2012 in Brimbank is expected to:
- raise the profile of reading throughout the municipality to encourage a culture of reading
- promote and support family literacy by encouraging parents to read to or share books with their children every day
- support parents in their role as their child’s first teacher and expose children to more learning opportunities before they attend school.
- deliver an information campaign targeting all Brimbank residents on the benefits of reading as a life skill, a catalyst for well-being and as a means of improving social and economic outcomes.
- plan, develop and deliver an extensive schedule of reading based programs and events with a range of internal and external partners
- increase in borrowing books (including audio books) and magazines by 5%
Mr Lewinsky said Brimbank libraries are also on Target 10,000 during the National Year of Reading.
“We want to register 10,000 new library members this year.
“In 2010/2011 Council’s libraries had more than 1.7 million library items borrowed by more than 80,000 library members, which is just fantastic.
“Library membership provides access to thousands of books and other resources, all at no charge, so please join up if you’re not already a member.
“Community members can join at one of the five libraries or online at www.brimbanklibraries.vic.gov.au. If you are already a member then we ask you to encourage a friend or family member to join,” Mr Lewinsky said.
Community members can visit any Brimbank library, either online or in person, and see how we are tracking on the membership banner. Each library will have an A1 poster with a marker indicating how many library members have been registered each month.
From February 2012 the library website will host a special NYR page dedicated to books and reading where visitors can get program updates, browse staff book reviews or contribute a review themselves. The page will also have information about online events and competitions, and offers reading inspiration from Award winning authors and from the new titles added to the library’s collection.
For more information and updates on NYR events, reviews on great books to read and more visit www.brimbanklibraries.vic.gov.au
National Year of Reading events throughout the year will be held at all Brimbank libraries:
Deer Park Library, Corner Neale and Station Roads Tel 9249 4660
Keilor Village Library, Kennedy Street Tel 9249 4670
St Albans Library, 71A Alfrieda Street, Tel 9249 4650
Sunshine Library, 301 Hampshire Road, Tel 9249 4640
Sydenham Library, Station Street, Watergardens Town Centre, Taylors Lakes Tel 9249 4680