Library seeks to distribute reading kits at govt hospitals and clinics
SARIKEI: Pustaka Negeri Sarawak is looking to distribute its ‘ Reading Seeds’ programme kits to every baby born in government hospitals and clinics in Sarawak.
Chief executive officer Dr Rashidah Bolhassan said given the great importance of inculcating a reading culture to enable children to acquire knowledge from a young age, the state library hopes to give the ‘ Reading Seeds’ kits to mothers upon discharge.
She described reading as a ‘gift of life’ and explained that the ‘Reading Seeds’ programme aims to inculcate a lifelong reading culture from birth.
Under the programme, a rebranding of the ‘Born to Read’ programme that began in 2004, the library provides ‘ Reading Seeds’ kits, which require parents to spend time reading to their newborns, giving parents and infants opportunities to frequently interact.
Rashidah said this when launching the ‘ Reading Seeds’ presentation ceremony at the Sarikei Innovation Centre yesterday.
Some 150 registered participants received the kits comprising specially- designed baby books and a reading manual.
She encouraged parents, especially mothers, to register as participants of the programme by signing up as members of the public libraries in their respective areas.
Rashidah said the programme is not only used as a benchmark for implementation in other states, but has also been acknowledged overseas.
The ‘ Reading Seeds’ team would organise workshops to help parents learn about the reading process and strategies related to the development of reading skills and comprehension through reading, she said, adding that evaluation of the overall achievement of the programme would be done throughout the year.
She added that to ensure greater impact, the library would work closely with the Ministry of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development; Health Department; Ministry Local Government and Housing; volunteers; donors; sponsors; and collaborators.