Children, young people and communities across Renfrewshire have received books as a Christmas gift.
Scottish Book Trust donated more than 14,000 books as part of their national campaign to foster a love of reading, widen access to books—particularly for those who have none—and improve literacy across Scotland.
The majority of books were distributed to schools, nurseries and libraries by Renfrewshire Council and OneRen. The STAR Project, Home Start Renfrewshire, Renfrewshire Toy Bank, the Renfrewshire Promise Champions, and other local third sector organisations also received books.
Councillor Emma Rodden, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services Policy Board, welcomed the donation. She said:
Having access to high-quality books is hugely important to increasing literacy levels for our young people. On behalf of everyone in Renfrewshire, I want to thank Scottish Book Trust for this donation which supports the work we do to develop a love of reading from a young age through programmes like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire’s reading initiatives for nursery and school-aged children and young people.
Councillor Lisa-Marie Hughes, chair of OneRen, added:
Reading for pleasure is a joy people of all ages should be able to experience. Our team is proud to be part of this initiative to widen access to high-quality books by adding to those we have in nurseries, schools and libraries across the region. I hope everyone who receives a book enjoys them. Well done to all involved.
Marc Lambert, chief executive of Scottish Book Trust, said:
We are more than delighted to be donating these books to the nurseries, schools and libraries of Renfrewshire. Literacy and a love of reading are fundamental attributes which the individual cannot do without in today's society and bring huge benefits across the arc of a person's life. That is why Scottish Book Trust is so happy to be able to support Renfrewshire in their initiative to ensure that children continue to have access to, and ownership of, high-quality, entertaining and life changing books.