It’s every child’s right to be a reader

A new campaign has this week called for the reinstatement of the primary school library fund. The fund was formerly used to provide new books for libraries in schools throughout the country but was abolished in 2008.

Launched on Monday by Children’s Books Ireland, CEO Elaina Ryan explained: “Books act as mirrors and windows, reflecting a child’s own reality as well as giving them an insight into the lives of others whose culture and point of view may be different from their own. Reading has the power to change children’s lives for the better. That is why the budget previously included grant funding for primary schools to keep their libraries stocked.

“However, this grant was cut in 2008 and has never been restored. That was almost 15 years ago. As a result, fewer children have ready access to excellent, modern books. Many schools have had to rely on donations to provide an essential resource.

“Astonishingly, new schools are being built with a library space provided but no funding to fill it. This year we can change this – by restoring the fund in Budget 2022.”

Children’s Books Ireland says that that allocating just €10 for every primary school child in the country to help schools buy books for their libraries – including audiobooks and picturebooks – means a Budget 2022 allocation of only €5.68m. This modest investment can open up a lifetime of possibility and excitement for children.

The campaign is supported by the current Laureate na nÓg, Áine Ní Ghlinn and all of her five predecessors, Siobhán Parkinson, Niamh Sharkey, Eoin Colfer, PJ Lynch and Sarah Crossan. It is the first time all six children’s laureates have united to support a campaign.

Áine Ní Ghlinn said: “As a child, the school library was my lifeline, my gateway to another world - a world of knowledge and imagination, of freedom and fun. Books changed my life and made me the person I am today.

“All children have the right to have access to this world, to the gift of reading for pleasure. All children have the right to see themselves, their lives and culture reflected in a book. We need to invest now in the future of our children. We need to give every child the right and opportunity to read.”

Elaina Ryan added: “Reading can be life-changing: evidence shows that reading for pleasure is more important for children’s cognitive development than their parents’ level of education and is a more powerful factor in life achievement than socio-economic background. By ensuring that every school has a supply of books that are fresh and appropriate for their students, we can level the playing field for those who may not have a culture of reading at home.

“School libraries should be for every child. In 2020, Children’s Books Ireland had almost 400 applications for our school library donation project, 70 per cent of which came from non-DEIS schools. Evidence further suggests that among 9 and 13 year olds, girls from working-class background are as likely as, or even more likely than, middle-class boys to read every day.

“If we are to provide equal opportunities for all students, the school library fund must be universal.”