Family Literacy Day 2014
On Monday, January 27, families across Canada will celebrate lifelong learning and the joy of reading during Family Literacy Day 2014.
Created by ABC Life Literacy in 1999, this annual event encourages libraries, schools and community organizations to host fun, family-friendly activities that promote the value of literacy and the importance of learning together.
Here in Nova Scotia, libraries and library partners will mark Family Literacy Day with a variety of activities such as puppet shows, craft making, storytelling, board games and book giveaways. See below to learn about a few of the special events happening around the province, or check with your local library to find out about activities taking place near you.
Read to Me! 50 Best Books for Babies
Since launching on Family Literacy Day 2002, the Read to Me! program has spent the past 12 years encouraging early literacy by providing books and reading resources to every baby born in Nova Scotia. To date, over 96,000 bags have been distributed to newborns and their families.
To celebrate this year’s Family Literacy Day, Read to Me! organizers will unveil “The Read to Me! 50 Best Books for Babies”; a brand new resource designed to help parents find the best books to share with their babies. Hosted by the Department of Labour and Advanced Education, the Colchester-East Hants Public Library, Read to Me!, and the East Hants Community Learning Association, the special event will take place at the Lloyd E. Matheson Centre in Elmsdale.
Additional support for the resource has been provided by the Nova Scotia Provincial Library, which provided all nine Nova Scotian regional library systems with their own copies of each of the 50 Best Books for Babies.
Family Literacy Day week at the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library
Saturday, January 25 to Friday, January 31
In celebration of Family Literacy Day 2014, the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library (PARL) and its seven library branches have organized a full week of great family events in Antigonish, New Glasgow, Pictou, River John, Stellarton, Trenton and Westville.
Visit PARL’s online event list for all the details.
South Shore Public Libraries
Monday, January 27, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Learning happens at all ages and in all kinds of places. Bring your family to the new Margaret Hennigar Public Library in Bridgewater on Family Literacy Day and enjoy stories, games, activities and the 15 Minutes of Fun contest.
While you’re here, check out the new library space, borrow from thousands of new books, enter your name in a prize draw, or add your family to the 15 Minutes of Fun list. Suitable for all ages!
James McConnell Memorial Library, Sydney
Sunday, January 26, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Spend the afternoon having fun at the James McConnell Memorial Library in Sydney! This family event will feature a welcome from Mayor Cecil Clarke; a puppet show; a musical performance of stories, songs and rhymes; crafts and face-painting; healthy snacks; and a free book for each child who attends, donated by the Adopt-A-Library Literacy Program.
This event is sponsored by the Adult Learning Association of Cape Breton County, Cape Breton’s Family Place Resource Center, the Cape Breton Regional Library and Adopt-a-Library Program.
