Each year the British Columbia Teacher-Librarians' Association (BCTLA) urges all British Columbians to take time to participate in DEAR by reading for 20 minutes at 11 a.m. on the fourth Monday in October. Today is also the tenth anniversary of National School Library Day, a day to celebrate and promote school libraries across the country.

The event today saw students from Cindrich Elementary school in Surrey mob the City Centre Library to celebrate DEAR with Education Minister Don McRae and Surrey-Panorama MLA Stephanie Cadieux.

This year, the B.C. government has provided an additional $10.7 million to districts to support early reading. A superintendent of reading, Maureen Dockendorf, has been appointed. As well, the Changing Results for Young Readers program for K-3 students will assist districts in helping young learners become successful, engaged readers.

Quotes:

Don McRae, Minister of Education -

"This is a great event to highlight the importance of reading, especially for our young learners. Strong reading skills bring self-confidence, a better quality of life, and are a key predictor of student success."

Stephanie Cadieux, Surrey-Panorama MLA -

"I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our librarians and library assistants in public libraries and in our schools. They enrich everyone's lives and help young people find the passion for reading that will serve them throughout their lives."

Shawn Wilson, vice-chair of the Surrey school board -

"The Surrey school district has developed many effective literacy programs and we are particularly proud of the fact Drop Everything and Read was initiated by our own teacher-librarian Bonnie Chapman. This wonderful event is now held in schools internationally every year. It's a great reminder about the many benefits of reading."

Heather Daly, president of the B.C. Teacher-Librarians' Association -

"Love of reading is a beautiful, valuable, lifelong passion that everyone should enjoy every day!"

Quick Facts:

• Last year in B.C., more than 60,000 kids and adults participated in Drop Everything and Read.

• Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested more than $1.5 billion in literacy and literacy-related initiatives, including pre-literacy and early learning programs.

Learn More:

Canadian Library Month: http://www.cla.ca/clm12/index.html

British Columbia Library Association: http://www.bcla.bc.ca/page/home.aspx

BC Teacher-Librarians Association: http://bctf.ca/bctla/

Changing Results for Young Readers: http://changingresultsforyoungreaders.bclibraries.ca/index.htm

BC's Education Plan: http://www.bcedplan.ca/

(flickr.com)

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Education
250 356-5963