Library part of family literacy world record attempt

Multiple branches of Western Counties Regional Library will be part of the Guinness World Record Attempt for “Most Children Reading with an Adult, Multiple Locations.” The Family Literacy Day World Record Attempt will be held across Canada at various locations on Jan. 23 and 24. The goal is to break the record of 78,791, set in the United States in 2006, by reading to a child for 30 minutes. “It’s a great opportunity for families to read together,” says Joanne Head, coordinator of Children’s Services for Western Counties Regional Library. “And you can’t get any better than Robert Munsch.”

This program is for all ages and library staff and volunteers will be reading Robert Munsch’s Munschworks 2 or read the stories from the collection. The stories in the collection are Pigs; Mortimer; Purple, Green and Yellow; Murmel, Murmel, Murmel; and Something Good, and they must be read in this order over the 30 minutes to count in the record attempt.

Participating library branches include: 〈 Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Library, Yarmouth; Friday, Jan. 23, 3 to 3:30 p.m. 〈 McKay Memorial Library, Shelburne; Friday, Jan. 23, 3:30 p.m. 〈 Clark’s Harbour Branch Library, Clark’s Harbour; Friday, Jan. 23, 6 to 7 p.m. 〈 Pubnico Branch Library, Pubnico Head; Saturday, Jan. 24, 10 to 11 a.m. 〈 Weymouth Branch Library, Weymouth; Saturday, Jan. 24, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Although drop-ins are welcome, people are asked to register with the library by Wednesday, Jan. 21 for organizational purposes.

The world record attempt is tied to Family Literacy Day (FLD), an annual event promoted by ABC CANADA Literacy Foundation that occurs on Jan. 27. It is also being coupled with Nova Scotia’s annual Read to Me! jamborees. Read to Me! is a provincial, hospital-based program developed to help families enrich their child’s early years with books and reading. “Every year, thousands of Canadians participate in Family Literacy Day activities across the country. The world record initiative is another great way to rally Canadian communities and help raise awareness for the benefits of adults and children reading and learning together,” said Margaret Eaton, president of ABC CANADA.

Anyone can participate in the Family Literacy Day World Record Attempt, from one adult and child reading together at home to large groups with a number of children being read to by several adult readers in a public setting. Public events are being planned for YMCAs, libraries, schools and literacy organizations across the country to occur in the 24-hour period between 2 p.m. on Jan. 23 and 2 p.m. on Jan. 24.

If people chose to do it at their households, they need to register their event with ABC CANADA through the Web site at www.FamilyLiteracyDay.ca. Or they can attend the event at a participating library. “If parents come and read aloud to their children, then we count those parents as well as the kids as long as they are reading with the kids,” says Head.

People can bring their own copies of Muschworks 2, she adds, noting that the text from the books will be available on that day at the ABC CANADA Web site. “The more the merrier. So put an hour aside to go to the library.”

The event is all about raising awareness of the value and importance of reading to one’s children, Eaton concludes. “A few minutes of family reading a day helps a parent and a child in very big way,” she says. “It prepares children for challenges ahead, encourages a lifetime of reading enjoyment, and sharpens an adult’s literacy skills. ABC CANADA is delighted to have the support of Oxford Learning, and FLD founding sponsor Honda Canada, in these exciting initiatives.” -30-