Readers Succeed!

And that's not just my opinion. When I'm not storytelling, blogging and doing all those other tasks that are part of my job in the library, running up and down a netball court, and doing the odd other thing I manage to squeeze into the day, this librarian is a student. And that's one of the things that comes through loud and clear in the books and research I read both from New Zealand and internationally.

Yesterday I was one of the judges up at the Warkworth Districts Primary school speech contest, where 11 very brave young souls stood on stage and presented speeches on a wide range of subjects from Learning how to Fly (learning to ride a horse), the pros and cons of being famous, fishing, Halloween and much more. The packed audience of parents and students were well entertained and the judges were really impressed with the standard.

But the really interesting thing to me is that the three placegetters... are all readers. They are regular library users and we see them (and their whole families) in the library all the time. It's very satisfying when we see families come into the library and parents who support their kids in this way. It works the other way too though, as often after visiting a school, we get the children bringing their parents into the library. There is certainly something for the whole family when you get here from the board books for the babies, through the magazines, music and to the talking books.

Anyway, congratulations to all the contestants (and everyone back at their schools who took part) but in particular to Nichole, Charlotte and Hayley. Well done.