Obama following in Swansea’s footsteps

BARACK Obama is following in the Swansea library service’s footsteps.

The US President has announced the American government’s intention for all school pupils there to receive public library cards – a scheme that was first introduced in Killay Library a number of years ago.

The Swansea Council scheme was initially a pilot project that provided all primary schoolchildren within the Killay catchment area membership to their local library. This gave the children free access to books, talking books, e-books, e-magazines, comics, homework help, computers, the internet, library clubs, games, events, activities and classes. It’s since been rolled out for eight and nine-year-olds at schools across the city with support from the Welsh Government.

The UK Government is also looking to follow suit. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has a plan for all junior school students in England to be enrolled in a local library to improve levels of literacy.

Cllr Robert Francis-Davies, Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Development and Regeneration, said: “It’s a huge compliment that the leader of the western world is about to introduce a scheme that was first piloted in Swansea a few years ago. Our library staff who developed the scheme should be immensely proud that the idea has made it not just to Westminster, but all the way across the Atlantic Ocean to the White House.

“Reading is such an important life skill. It helps children perform better at school, sparks their imagination and encourages them to find out more about the world around them. Free access to books and facilities like computers and the internet is also especially important in some of our more disadvantaged communities. It helps tackle poverty and boosts future prospects, which, as a council, is one of our top priorities. ”

The original Every Child a Library Member project at Killay Library won a Gold Award at the Welsh Libraries Marketing Awards.

The Scottish Government is also getting in on the act, with pilot projects being developed in every council area there to enrol children in libraries during their early years.