Around Ealing around_ealing_dec-jan-2018 | Page 22

LIBRARIES
More than words
Our libraries are more than a place of books, computers and information; they
unlock the joys of learning, foster friendships and provide social glue for a
community – from the very young to the old.
G
iving someone the ability to read and a
love of stories are wonderful gifts to give
a child, and is a present for life. That is
what Bookstart aims to do.
Bookstart is run in Ealing by the Book
Trust in partnership with the council. It is
a national programme offering packs of
free books to all children living in the
borough before they start school as
well as guidance materials to every
parent and carer to encourage
them to read to their babies
and young children. The more
they are read to, the more
they progress.
Libraries in the borough
host special story and rhyme
sessions, and also hand
out Bookstart packs – one
tailored to babies, and
another for young children
aged up to four.
Sarabjit (pictured) took
her son and daughter to the
Bookstart Story Corner sessions
at Southall Library.
She said: “I loved coming
to the Bookstart sessions at
the library. We attended as a
family every week for five one-
hour sessions. My son developed
an interest in books and he was very
pleased to receive the gift pack to take
home, where he would retell the stories. I
am making time for stories and rhymes with my
children at home; now I know how important it is
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around ealing    December 2017