BOOKS FOR KIDS, LIBRARIANS FOR SCHOOLS, A BIG
BOOST FOR CHILD LITERACY
Ontario
Liberals Commit $80 million For School Library Books And $40 Million For
More Librarians; Indigo To Sell Province Books At Cost
TORONTO -
Premier Dalton McGuinty announced that Ontario Liberals will commit $120
million over four years for additional books and librarians in elementary
school libraries.
"This
is the most significant investment in school libraries in a
generation," McGuinty said.
"It
will mean 1.7 million new books each year - more than 430 per school - and
additional librarians in schools across Ontario. Most importantly, it will
mean high quality, up-to-date books in the hands of young learners, and
that's great news for their reading, writing and long-term prospects for
success."
McGuinty was
joined by Heather Reisman, Chairwoman and CEO of Indigo Books & Music,
which has agreed to provide the
books at cost.
"I
want to thank Heather and Indigo, not only for this generous gesture, but
for their long-standing devotion to the cause of child literacy in
Canada," McGuinty said.
"They're
not merely in the business of selling books, they're dedicated to ensuring
every child can discover the magic of reading, because they know that
translates into opportunity for every child."
McGuinty
said the new investment in school libraries and librarians is part of
Ontario Liberals' commitment to improve publicly funded education across
the province.
Ontario
Liberals have been acting on their literacy priority since 2003, when we
developed the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat (LNS) led by Dr. Avis
Glaze. The secretariat works directly with schools, sharing best practices
and ensuring they get the resources they need.
The McGuinty
government has achieved smaller class sizes in the early grades, more
teachers and peace and stability in public education, with no full-time
teacher's strikes.
"Together,
these positive changes have led to higher test scores and improved student
achievement," McGuinty said.
"But
there's more to do, and we need to keep moving forward. With Heather and
Indigo's help, we can give our children in publicly funded schools the
tools they need to succeed," McGuinty said.
