Great Lakes Council will hold a launch to celebrate the success of the Forster Library’s “Better Reading Better Communities” project on Monday 30 March.

Mayor Cr Jan McWilliams will officially launch the Project, saying “this project is just over a year old and is having a very positive impact on many lives. Knowledge of this fantastic free service is steadily reaching the wider community and participation by many organisations and individuals is proving key to its overall success”.

Better Reading Better Communities is built on a team of wonderful volunteers who help people to improve their reading skills. Referrals for adults are being received from organisations like the Neighbourhood Centre and Migrant Centre, as well as people approaching the Library directly.

Many of the Project’s tutors are actively involved in local school learning support teams, assist children with homework outside of school hours, or work with adults keen to develop their reading skills or learn English as a second language.

“The story of Better Reading Better Communities is a tremendous example of how much you can achieve when you have a wonderful network of people and organisations sharing a common goal. It’s all about People Power” says Library Manager, Mr Chris Jones “It’s been so successful that we really felt that it was important to have an official launch. This will also help promote the project to an even wider audience.”

There are many other initiatives taking place as well, under the banner of Better Reading Better Communities, which has its own brand.

The Library now has a volunteer helping people fill out forms, they have a network of volunteers keen to read to residents of nursing homes, the volunteer program is being extended into the indigenous community, there are intentions to expand the Library’s Homework Help program into Tuncurry, thanks to WEA, and the group has begun storytelling at markets around the region.

Who knows what will be next?