News
Right to Read Campaign announces Proposals to Local Authorities for 2008 Estimates
The Right to Read Campaign are calling on all Local Authorities to implement the following measures as part of their annual estimates to be adopted for 2008.
1. Library Service
- Increase the number of activities in libraries to promote reading
- Increase opening hours, especially in the evenings after school
- Move towards a six day a week service in every library
- Ensure that all libraries publish community outreach plans and work in partnership with schools and community groups to maximise participation in library activities
2. Homework Clubs
- Councils to identify local authority estates where homework clubs could be established on a pilot basis initially
- Council Community Development section to staff and deliver a quality homework club service within the community.
- Council Housing Department to oversee the development of the service and to source funding from other agencies
3. Housing Policy
- The eradication of educational disadvantage to be prioritised in the mission statement of the council development plan
- Social / Affordable housing provided by the council must have space to fit a quiet study area for a child to do their homework or read for recreation.
- Housing policy on local authority estates must also facilitate homework clubs by making community rooms available for this purpose.
- Apartment size guidelines to promote reading and learning in the home
4. Parent Courses
- Introduction of a ‘Baby Loves Books’ Scheme where literacy packs are given to young parents through local community crèches and also to initiate family literacy courses for parents through the library service
- Introduction of ‘Family Learning through Football’
Scheme where sports development officers initiate a football coaching
course based on the Sunderland FC / Dublin Docklands Development Authority
model where parents and children are engaged in a ten week course
which focuses on parenting skills and literacy through the medium
of football.