Reading Buddies back at library

Reading Buddies back at library

News

By: Sandra Bolan

Reading Buddies is back at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library.

The program, which is for children aged seven to 12, is designed to help students who have trouble reading.

“There’s no screening on our parts, so we don’t look at it like this child is far too good a reader to take part in this program,” Debbie Scott, the library’s program assistant said.

“The child reads what they want to read and the mentor tries to get them to read at their own level.”

Each child is paired up with a trained volunteer and once a week, throughout the school year, the two meet at the library to read, draw or just peruse the library stacks.

“The idea is not to teach children,” Ms Scott said. “The idea is to have fun and make it a positive thing.”

The program, which is entering its third year and replaced the long-running reading circle program, typically helps two types of students — the ones who are uncomfortable reading out loud and who want to gain confidence in that skill and those who are just not interested in reading.

reluctant readers

Ms Scott admitted reluctant readers are the most challenging for volunteers to engage, but said it can be done by choosing reading material, even comic books and magazines, that interest the child.

“You don’t want to turn children off, you want to engage them,” she said. “We ultimately want people to come to the library because literacy is a lifetime value.”

However, not all Canadians understand the value of literacy as almost one in two between the ages of 16 and 69 have difficulty reading and writing, according to a 2003 Ontario Literacy Coalition study.

According to a June 2006 report by Statistics Canada, young Canadians who read at a high proficiency level are more likely to graduate from high school and pursue postsecondary education.

“Any organization, particularly a library, that can support the education system by providing extra help is extremely important,” Ms Scott said.

TD Bank Financial Group estimates that a one per cent increase in literacy rates could boost the national income by as much as $32 billion.

“An economic payoff of more than $80 million could be achieved if all Canadians reached the desired level of literacy,” according to TD Bank Financial Group.

“Raising literacy skills could also create thousands of new jobs, lower unemployment and significantly raise personal income - all of which could play a big role in combating poverty.”

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