Doora National School is one of eighteen schools across the country selected to be part of the Every Child A Reader Project.
Almost 400 schools applied for library support from Children’s Books Ireland last year as they highlighted that teachers were having to purchase books out of their own funds with school library shelves left bare.
Since the school library grant was cut in the 2008 budget there has been no dedicated funding for school library books and the need for support of reading for pleasure in schools is stark.
As part of its involvement in the project, Doora NS has received 210 children’s books for their school library worth over €2000, the opportunity to win an additional €1000 worth of books in September on completion of ten fun reading challenges, meetings with storyteller Patrick Ryan via Zoom, video workshops for every class from an Irish author or illustrator, a whole school Monster Doodle plus posters, bunting, bookmarks and stickers.
Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland explained, “We want every child in these schools to be reading more, enjoying reading more and reading more widely. We want them to see themselves in the books on their shelves, and to have a window to other cultures, other worlds, through reading. So we’ve provided brilliant books for all ages and interests, and we can’t wait to hear what the students in Doora National School think of their new school library”.
