New library early literacy program first for regional NSW

Published on 14 September 2022

Kempsey Shire Libraries together with Port Macquarie Hastings Library have launched a new program to support early literacy.

The program is called 1000 Books Before School. As the name suggests it aims to get kids to read or have read to them 1000 books by the time they start Kindergarten.

Progress can be tracked using reading chart collected from the library or by using the Beanstack App. Once 100 books have been read a book bag and badge can be collected. A new badge is earned every time 100 books are read.  A special gold badge is awarded once 1000 books are read.

Favourite books can be read multiple times and books read at home, at the library, at Storytime or preschool can all be recorded.

Parents are invited to come into a Kempsey Shire Libraries branch to enrol their children in the program and collect their reading chart.