This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Cash for free books scheme
06/02/2007
Funding of £1.5 million to expand what is belived to be the world's first baby book gifting scheme over the next two years was announced today.
Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson outlined the Executive support for the Bookstart in Scotland scheme during a visit to Sighthill Library in Edinburgh where she met with parents and children during their weekly Bookstart Rhymetime event.
Bookstart was launched by the Booktrust in 1992, and involves libraries, health professionals, arts development workers, Sure Start and early-years workers. It is designed to introduce children to books, and stimulate their engagement with the arts, from a very early age.
The new funding for the scheme includes continued support for the provision of Bookstart packs for every baby in their first year.
Additional elements to the programme will now include a promise to provide Bookstart+ packs for toddlers aged 18-30 months and My Bookstart Treasure Chests for children aged 36-48 months.
Ms Ferguson said:
"Books can provide the first crucial step in the cultural development of Scotland's children, and stimulate their lifelong engagement with the arts.
"They can help to unlock a child's imagination and creativity, and boost their early development. The information provided in the new Treasure Chests will also help children, and their parents, to become familiar with local opportunities and social settings where they can enjoy books with others, such as libraries, bookshops and community events.
"This will lead to increased participation in our cultural life and bring real benefits to communities and individuals, by improving their literacy and numeracy skills as well as unleashing their creative potential."
Caroline McLeod, Bookstart National Development Manager for Scotland said:
"The extra funding from the Culture Department is wonderful news for Bookstart in Scotland.
"The funding will allow us to build on our very strong Bookstart programme for babies, to continue to inform and remind parents and carers about the importance of book sharing throughout the early years, from birth right up to when children are ready to start school.
"This will ensure that every child in Scotland has the opportunity to experience the pleasure of books right from the start."
Background:
The Executive will provide £800,000 worth of funding for 2007-08 and £700,000 for 2008-09 from the remainder of the £20 million Cultural Review budget.
From April 2007 Bookstart+ packs will be delivered to children aged between 15 months and 24 months, primarily via Health Visitors. They will also be available from secondary access points including libraries, Sure Start and other relevant workers to ensure that as many children as possible receive their packs.
Local authorities will be responsible for delivery of the My Bookstart Treasure Chests.
Bookstart works with libraries, health visitors and early years professionals to give the gift of free books to every child at around two months, eighteen months and three years old, along with guidance materials for parents and carers. Bookstart seeks to promote the importance of books and the benefits of early book-sharing, such as parental bonding and promoting emotional intelligence, as well as building good communication and listening skills, and helping to lay the foundations of early literacy. Bookstart also aims to foster a love of books through a range of fun activities like Bookstart Rhymetimes and the Bookstart Book Crawl.
The books are chosen by Booktrust, an independent charity that encourages people to discover and enjoy reading. Although Bookstart works with different partners, including commercial sponsors, charitable trusts and government departments, the book selection process is independent and has no government or commercial involvement.
Sighthill Library has won several high profile awards recently including the CILIP Libraries Change Lives Awards, Public Servant of the Year Award and the Standing up to Anti Social Behaviour Award for 2005. All of them for the innovative way the team are working with young people.