- 11/06/2014
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Categories: Latest News, Press Releases
Labour AM for Swansea East Mike Hedges has today welcomed the news that Swansea Council will be taking part in a Welsh Government funded pilot scheme to give every primary school pupil in the City and Country a free library card.
The free library card project, which was announced earlier this week by Education Minister Huw Lewis, will allow Swansea pupils (starting with those aged 8-9) to get access to thousands of free books as well as many more learning resources to help improve their school work and enhance their leisure time. This includes:
- Free fiction, non-fiction, comics, graphic novels and talking books;
- Free online and library-based homework help;
- Free access to e-books and e-magazines, and;
- Free computer use and internet access;
This scheme compliments the Welsh Government’s “Make Time to Read” campaign, which states that just 10 minutes of reading a day can make a big difference to a child’s literacy levels. The Welsh Government has also recently launched “Education Begins at Home”; a new campaign encouraging parents to help children with their learning at home.
Welcoming the news that Swansea will be taking part in the pilot scheme, local AM Mike Hedges said:
“Reading from a young age is incredible important for a child’s learning, development and life chances. Just reading for ten minutes a day can make a massive difference. But picking up a book and learning doesn’t have to stop at home, which is why giving our young learners in Swansea free access to a range of books and electronic literature via our public libraries is so important.”
