LITTLE BOOKWORM
Family Literacy Day events held in libraries throughout P.E.I. on Saturday
Cooper Bourque was just one of the bookworms at the Family Literacy Day celebration at Montague Rotary Library on Saturday. Similar events were held in libraries across P.E.I.
Corbitt Arfken always has a back-up book ready to read.
The seven-year-old Islander was one of several dozen people at the Montague Rotary Library on Saturday taking part in the Family Literacy Day celebration.
While the library offers plenty of activities, from computers and game consoles to a Lego wall and toys, Arfken and his four-year-old sister Scarlett were both content with their heads buried down in books.
Corbitt was reading The Fourth Ruby, the second book in a series called “Section 13” which he said was a lot like Harry Potter.
“I don’t know how to explain why I like it. It’s kind of magical,” said Corbitt, who was even wearing a wizard costume during the event. “(Reading) is one of my favourite things to do… I’m a fast reader, I always have a backup book.”
A love of reading also runs in Corbitt’s family, with his younger sister now starting her first attempt at reading Harry Potter on her own.
Mother Kristen Johnson, said the family often visits the library and wanted to participate in the Family Literacy Day event.
“(Scarlett) taught herself how to read, they both did and they both really enjoy it. We either go to this library or the Confederation Centre Library a few times a week,” said Johnson. “(Corbitt and Scarlett) enjoy the programming here at the library, they always do a good job of putting on things here.”
A love of learning was shared throughout the province on Saturday as a number of P.E.I. libraries held events. Family Literacy Day is sponsored by P.E.I. Public Library Service and the P.E.I. Literacy Alliance.
Montague’s “read-in,” which are designed to get as many people reading at once as possible, saw a number of youth and parents sharing in some stories together. The theme for this year’s event was “Learn at Play, Every Day!”
Montague Mayor Richard Collins was at the event with two of his grandchildren, Cooper and Jorja Bourque, and said the library plays an important role in the community with thousands of users.
“I’m happy to be here with my grandchildren and enjoy spending time with them very much,” said Collins. “At the same time, I’m happy we’ve had a good turnout for Montague’s Family Literacy Day, it’s an important day and it’s important that as many people as possible use our library.”
Library assistant Erin Lundrigan noted while Saturday was a little busier than usual at the library, the location often sees a good crowd on the weekend.
“We typically have a fair amount of kids come in and play, hang out and check out books on Saturdays. It’s a busy day,” said Lundrigan, adding that the library has seen circulation increase every single year including a 22 per cent rise in 2017.
Programming was also up 33 per cent last year, with the library hosting events ranging from craft nights and book clubs, to story-times and novelthemed trivia nights.
“We love to see the kids come in here and get excited about checking out new books and just holding the books,” said Lundrigan. “It’s nice that kids still get excited about looking at the pages and turning the pages.”
“I don’t know how to explain why I like it. It’s kind of magical. (Reading) is one of my favourite things to do… I’m a fast reader, I always have a backup book.”
Corbitt Arfken