Shoalhaven City Council Library Staff will be participating in the nationwide ‘Reading Hour’ program this weekend by hosting a ‘storytime’ event at Stockland Nowra from 10am this Saturday 25 August.

Held as part of National Year of Reading celebrations, the Reading Hour program will see communities across the country stop and take the time to read to children in a combined effort to help raise the issue of child literacy.

Shoalhaven Libraries and Community Services Manager, Noela Lim said Library staff will be providing local residents with a very special ‘storytime’ reading of Alison Lester’s children’s classic, Are we there yet.

Ms Lim said ‘storytime’ readings were a free and interactive event, allowing ample opportunity for children to participate in the telling of the story.

“The Reading Hour is a fantastic initiative designed to help provide awareness to the many long term social and educational benefits that can be achieved through regular reading to young children,” said Ms Lim.

“By simply reading to a child for 10 minutes a night, that child will have the best chance of becoming a good reader while also developing other vital characteristics including enhanced concentration and greater imagination.

“All Shoalhaven City Libraries host a range of ‘storytime’ events and keep a wide array of books and other resources aimed at developing child literacy.”

“I would certainly encourage all local residents looking to further their children’s interest in books and reading to attend the upcoming ‘storytime’ at Nowra Stockland or any of the other events taking place at our libraries right throughout the year.”