Ontario Liberals Commit $80 million For School Library Books And $40 Million For More Librarians; Indigo To Sell Province Books At Cost
TORONTO, Sept. 19 /CNW/ - Premier Dalton McGuinty announced that Ontario Liberals will commit $120 million over four years for additional books and librarians in elementary school libraries.
"This is the most significant investment in school libraries in a generation," McGuinty said.
"It will mean 1.7 million new books each year - more than 430 per school - and additional librarians in schools across Ontario. Most importantly, it will mean high quality, up-to-date books in the hands of young learners, and that's great news for their reading, writing and long-term prospects for success."
McGuinty was joined by Heather Reisman, CEO of Indigo Books & Music, which has agreed to provide the books at cost.
"I want to thank Heather and Indigo, not only for this generous gesture, but for their long-standing devotion to the cause of child literacy in Canada," McGuinty said.
"They're not merely in the business of selling books, they're dedicated to ensuring every child can discover the magic of reading, because they know that translates into opportunity for every child."
McGuinty said the new investment in school libraries and librarians is part of Ontario Liberals' commitment to improve publicly funded education across the province.
Ontario Liberals have been acting on their literacy priority since 2003, when we developed the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat (LNS) led by Dr. Avis Glaze. The secretariat works directly with schools, sharing best practices and ensuring they get the resources they need.
The McGuinty government has achieved smaller class sizes in the early grades, more teachers and peace and stability in public education, with no full-time teacher's strikes.
"Together, these positive changes have led to higher test scores and improved student achievement," McGuinty said.
"But there's more to do, and we need to keep moving forward. With Heather and Indigo's help, we can give our children in publicly funded schools the tools they need to succeed," McGuinty said.
