MEDIA RELEASE
BABIES DO LOVE BOOKS TOO
Parents, babies and Rosebud Library celebrated the launch of Babies Love Books Too last week. The launch, which attracted over 60 parents and babies, included an official opening by Councillor David Gibb, illustrations by local author and illustrator Jeannette Rowe and stories by Rosebud Branch Librarian Leanne Fox.
Following the event 25 babies were signed up as members of Our Library and received a brand new Babies Love Books Too special membership! The new Babies Love Books Too library cards have arrived and are free for babies up to 3 years old.
The cards have been implemented as a part of the Babies Love Books Too program which is run by Mornington Peninsula Library in conjunction with the Maternal and Child Health Nurses.
Babies Love Books Too is a program which aims to encourage parents to read to their children from a very early age. To help encourage this love of reading together maternal and child health nurses deliver a Babies Love Books Too library bag full of goodies to parents and babies at the 4 week child health check.
Reading with your baby helps to develop their language, listening and concentration skills. Research shows that the earlier children discover books, the greater their chance of becoming good readers. Reading together also develops a strong bond between parent and child.
The program initially funded by the Telstra Foundation was first implemented in the Western Port area in 2003. After a huge success the program, now funded by the Shire through the Library service, is to be expanded across the whole Peninsula.
The initial program piloted a community education program for parents with new born babies to influence literacy development and encourage parents to share books and read aloud to babies from birth.
On receiving the book bag 23% of parents reported they began reading to their baby for the first time and 32% of parents reported they began reading to their baby more often.
When asked, did the Babies Love Books Too bag encourage you to read to your baby earlier than you would have otherwise done? 42% responded YES.
It is hoped with the expansion of the program that these statistics will be reflected and even increased across the whole peninsula.
Come into any branch of Our Library today to celebrate the Babies Love Books Too program, join up your child and set them up for a future love of books and reading!
Hastings Library – 7 High St Hastings, Ph: 5950 1710
Mornington Library – Vancouver St Mornington, Ph: 5950 1820
Rosebud Library – McDowell St Rosebud, Ph: 5950 1230
Somerville Library – 1085 Frankston Flinders Rd Somerville, Ph: 5950 1700
Mobile Library – 16 sites across the Peninsula each week, Ph: 5950 1713
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