24 May All children to get a library card as part of Essex Year of Reading
In celebration of the Essex Year of Reading campaign, organisers are urging all parents and carers to sign their child up for a free library card and discover the power of reading.
From 23 May all Essex schoolchildren, from Reception to Year 7, will receive their own library card, plus an Essex Year of Reading bookmark from their school. Parents and carers simply need to take the card to an Essex library to activate it and start borrowing books.
Essex library cards offer free access to thousands of books, including picture books, learning to read books, sensational stories and fascinating fact books, plus e-books, e-audio and e-comics.
The move is part of efforts to help boost schoolchildren’s reading levels across the county and to inspire a lifelong love of reading.
Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: “Reading is not only enjoyable, but also extremely powerful and can open up new opportunities for children and young people throughout their lives.
“We want every child to be able to discover the joy of reading and to see where is takes them. That’s why we’re also pleased to announce that from 2023, every child will automatically receive details of how to sign up for a library card, with their offer of a school place.”
Cllr Louise McKinlay, Essex County Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Community, Equality, Partnerships and Performance, said: “Our library service is for everyone and offers people of all ages not only a wealth of reading materials, but also fun activities, learning opportunities, cultural experiences and digital technology.
“Parents, carers and young people themselves can access information and materials to support their reading skills and literacy from an early age right through to adulthood. I am pleased we can provide every child in Essex with a library card and support them in discovering everything our libraries have to offer.”
To discover more about the Essex Year of Reading, download the app for free from the App store or Google Play, where you’ll find information about Essex Libraries and various events, competitions and challenges being hosted by the Essex Year of Reading.
To find out more about events being hosted by the Essex Year of Reading, visit https://www.essex.gov.uk/news/essex-year-of-reading.
