Library launches into storytime event

LITTLE readers came together at the Bendigo Library last week for National Simultaneous Storytime, an initiative by the Australian Library and Information Association.

The trans-Tasman events saw over one million children at more than 8000 locations read Philip Bunting’s Give Me Some Space from 11am, and coordinator of children’s activities at the library Vivien Newton said the day teaches an important lesson to children in a fun way.

“Early years literacy is the most vital thing to set them up for success in life,” she said.

“The more that you can make it a habit when they’re little, the more chance they’ve got of being able to branch out and do anything, survive when they get to school, end up employed and able to function in the world.”

While Ms Newton said last year’s NSS events went “worldwide” online in lockdown, this year they travelled even further as NASA astronaut Shannon Walker read the space themed picture book to children from the International Space Station.

“What we’re showing to the kids is that reading is not just in a library or it’s not just come and take a book, it’s important to everyone around you,” she said. “It’s an opportunity for a bit of fun.

“It’s a chance to just showcase the other things that are around literacy and to pull in community members as readers to show that they believe it’s important as an adult who is outside the library, so it’s not just library based.”