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Premiers’ Reading Challenge Book Fund Member for Morwell Russell Northe has today announced that the Latrobe City Council will receive $13,584 from the Premiers’ Reading Challenge Book Fund. By Russell Northe - 20th December 2011 - Back to News "The Book Fund is an excellent initiative which has helped to increase participation in reading," said Mr Northe.
"The Book Fund has given our students the opportunity to develop a love of books and has introduced them to a new literary world of places, ideas and friends. "This funding will also give our students the opportunity to develop and expand upon their reading and literacy skills which will assist them throughout their lives," said Mr Northe.
"I congratulate Latrobe City on receiving this funding, and look forward to hearing some positive stories coming from our community members and local libraries."
Minister for Local Government, Jeanette Powell, has written to library corporations and councils to advise them of their allocation in this round of funding.
"The Coalition Government is committed to improving educational opportunities for young Victorians and the Premiers’ Reading Challenge Book Fund provides access to a fabulous reading list of more than 4000 items," Mrs Powell said.
"The Book Fund is an important component of Coalition Government’s investment in encouraging Victoria’s young people to read more widely on their journey to lifelong learning.
"Containing authors as diverse and important as Homer, Dickens and Pamela Allen the Book Fund’s reading list is replete with titles to delight and challenge children of all ages," Mrs Powell said.
Premier Ted Baillieu has adopted a bi-partisan approach to the Book Fund and has enlisted the support of former Premiers John Cain, Joan Kirner, Jeff Kennett, Steve Bracks and John Brumby for this fantastic literacy initiative.
The $1 million from the Premiers’ Reading Challenge Book Fund is in addition to the $33.5 million that has been allocated in recurrent grants to public libraries under the Public Libraries Funding Program in 2011-12.
"Victoria has a world class public library network and the Coalition Government is intent on improving the services libraries deliver and the buildings they operate in," Mrs Powell said.
Media: Russell Northe 0408 22 55 23 / Julia Auciello 5133 9088
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com
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