St. Mary Community School in North Battleford is one of 30 Canadian elementary schools to benefit from dispersal of $1.5 million by the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation’s Literacy Fund.
St. Mary has qualified for a $45,000 Literacy Fund grant that will be used to enhance the school’s library collection and services.
According to the foundation, books have a way of opening doors to new adventures. Whether it is befriending a fire-breathing dragon or following the journey of a superhero wearing underpants, books help to develop a sense of curiosity and engagement while also sparking a child’s imagination and creativity.
School libraries play a big role in providing children with early exposure to books, especially in areas where children may not have access to books at home. Unfortunately, the reality is that many high-needs elementary schools in Canada do not have adequate funding to maintain healthy school libraries.
“Without access to books, children are more limited in their chances to learn and explore through reading,” said Ariel Siller, executive director of the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation.
“That is why we are so dedicated to offering high-needs elementary schools across Canada an opportunity to transform their school libraries through the Literacy Fund grants.
The Indigo Love of Reading Foundation believes all Canadian children deserve access to books. However, due to insufficient public funding of school libraries, many Canadian schools can only afford one new library book a year for every three children. In an effort to place more books in the hands of Canadian children, the Foundation’s annual Literacy Fund grants allow schools to invest in their libraries and offer new materials that are relevant and engaging to their students.
As a result of this year’s Literacy Fund grants, more than 7,500 students across the country will attend schools that have funds to purchase more than 150,000 books over the next three years.
Sutherland Elementary School was the other Saskatchewan school to receive a grant.
