Jan O'Sullivan TD, Minister for Education and Skills was in Roxboro today to present certificates to more than 40 young people from across Limerick who participated in the 2014 Summer Reading Challenge.
Hosted by Roxboro Library, a branch of Limerick City and County Library Service, the annual initiative challenges children aged 4-13 years old to read 6 books across a wide range of topics to give them a greater understanding of the variety of books available in their local library.
Congratulating participants today, Minister O'Sullivan said: "I am delighted to see that the children really enjoyed the Challenge from beginning to end, with each child having an opportunity to participate at their own level. The Challenge has most definitely encouraged the children to read more than ever before."
This year's Summer Reading Challenge also saw children take part in art, poetry and book review competitions, while there was a particular focus on Limerick City with participants being encouraged to visit various local historical, sporting and cultural sights.
"The promotion of our city and all it has to offer has been an important aspect of our annual Summer Reading Challenge this year as we celebrate our status as National City of Culture," commented Damien Brady, Limerick City and County Librarian.
He added: "We are delighted that over 40 children from Roxboro and the surrounding area took part in this year's challenge, which represents an increase on 2013. Roxboro Library's hosting of the Summer Reading Challenge forms part of its vital community role of supporting schools and organisations in the area by providing literacy support and materials to aid in the development of reading skills in children at all stages of life."
Roxboro Library has been located in the south side of the city since 1975, in the Roxboro Shopping Centre. The Branch caters for children, teenagers and adults with a wide selection of fiction and nonfiction books, as well as audio materials and DVD's. To complement its role of book lending, the Library also provides internet access for borrowers as well as printing and photocopying facilities to the community it serves.
Mr. Brady continued: "Roxboro Library is delighted to welcome the local pre-school, primary and secondary schools in the area to use the facilities of the branch. Along with other branches throughout Limerick, Roxboro also supports World Book Day, Library Ireland Week, Children's Book Festival, Seachtáin na Gaeilge and other events throughout the year. The National Right to Read Campaign, led by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, is also supported by Limerick City and County Library Service."
"As it has for the past 38 years, Roxboro Library will continue to provide and promote books and a love of reading within the community and the city through the services it provides," he concluded.
Meanwhile, Summer Reading Challenge participants at two other City libraries will also be presented with their certificates this week.
At 4pm this Wednesday, local author Roisin Meaney will be at The Granary Library which has been a focal point for literature, local history, culture and the ever popular Library Lecture Series. Roisin is a very poplar story teller at children's story time in The Granary.
Elsewhere, Judi Curtin - the best-selling author of the 'Alice and Megan' series - will be at Watch House Cross Library in Moyross on Thursday from 3.30pm to 4.00pm. The Summer Reading Challenge was originally developed and designed in Watch House Cross in 2008, and has gone from strength to strength since then.
Visit www.limerick.ie/Library for more about the Summer Reading Challenge and the Limerick Library Service.
Hosted by Roxboro Library, a branch of Limerick City and County Library Service, the annual initiative challenges children aged 4-13 years old to read 6 books across a wide range of topics to give them a greater understanding of the variety of books available in their local library.
Congratulating participants today, Minister O'Sullivan said: "I am delighted to see that the children really enjoyed the Challenge from beginning to end, with each child having an opportunity to participate at their own level. The Challenge has most definitely encouraged the children to read more than ever before."
This year's Summer Reading Challenge also saw children take part in art, poetry and book review competitions, while there was a particular focus on Limerick City with participants being encouraged to visit various local historical, sporting and cultural sights.
"The promotion of our city and all it has to offer has been an important aspect of our annual Summer Reading Challenge this year as we celebrate our status as National City of Culture," commented Damien Brady, Limerick City and County Librarian.
He added: "We are delighted that over 40 children from Roxboro and the surrounding area took part in this year's challenge, which represents an increase on 2013. Roxboro Library's hosting of the Summer Reading Challenge forms part of its vital community role of supporting schools and organisations in the area by providing literacy support and materials to aid in the development of reading skills in children at all stages of life."
Roxboro Library has been located in the south side of the city since 1975, in the Roxboro Shopping Centre. The Branch caters for children, teenagers and adults with a wide selection of fiction and nonfiction books, as well as audio materials and DVD's. To complement its role of book lending, the Library also provides internet access for borrowers as well as printing and photocopying facilities to the community it serves.
Mr. Brady continued: "Roxboro Library is delighted to welcome the local pre-school, primary and secondary schools in the area to use the facilities of the branch. Along with other branches throughout Limerick, Roxboro also supports World Book Day, Library Ireland Week, Children's Book Festival, Seachtáin na Gaeilge and other events throughout the year. The National Right to Read Campaign, led by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, is also supported by Limerick City and County Library Service."
"As it has for the past 38 years, Roxboro Library will continue to provide and promote books and a love of reading within the community and the city through the services it provides," he concluded.
Meanwhile, Summer Reading Challenge participants at two other City libraries will also be presented with their certificates this week.
At 4pm this Wednesday, local author Roisin Meaney will be at The Granary Library which has been a focal point for literature, local history, culture and the ever popular Library Lecture Series. Roisin is a very poplar story teller at children's story time in The Granary.
Elsewhere, Judi Curtin - the best-selling author of the 'Alice and Megan' series - will be at Watch House Cross Library in Moyross on Thursday from 3.30pm to 4.00pm. The Summer Reading Challenge was originally developed and designed in Watch House Cross in 2008, and has gone from strength to strength since then.
Visit www.limerick.ie/Library for more about the Summer Reading Challenge and the Limerick Library Service.
