Automatic Library Card For Every Child In Wales – Rolling Out To The Final 6 Authorities

Welsh libraries and primary schools are joining forces to provide every primary school child with a library card. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The project started in March 2014 with six local authorities piloting the initiative and, thanks to Welsh Government funding from the Department of Culture, Sport & Tourism, this has now been rolled out to the final six local authorities in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Since the Every Child A Library Member scheme began over 625 schools have signed up, with at least 235 of these in Communities First areas. Over 12,700 children were issued with a new library card in 2014-15, resulting in 28,938 books being issued to children with the new cards over just a three month period. With all 22 local authorities now in the scheme over 33,500 pupils in year 4 will be targeted in 2015-16. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Launching the initiative in Anglesey yesterday (10.3.16), Iolo Williams – one of Wales’ most renowned naturalists and wildlife presenters said: “Libraries are such an important resource – they are a great place for children to let their imagination grow and to develop and it is vitally important that we encourage our children to read more not only to improve their literacy levels but also to help them with life skills and future opportunities.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anglesey’s Lifelong Learning portfolio holder, Councillor Kenneth P Hughes, said: “This library card will allow the children to borrow books straight away and get a great bag to carry their books home with them. Once proof of address is provided, they can then have access to thousands of free books, use the computers and access lots of other resources.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Use your local library to access the amazing range of services including: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• FREE fiction, non-fiction, comics, graphic novels and talking books ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• FREE homework help – online and in the library ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• FREE e-books and e-magazines ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• FREE computer use and internet access ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Clubs, games, events, activities and classes in the library ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Friendly, helpful library staff ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Somewhere safe to meet friends ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This initiative is targeting year four pupils in all 22 Welsh authorities and supports the Welsh Government’s Education Begins at Home campaign which encourages parents to help their child at home by making time to read which can help their performance in school. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​