Adopt-a-LibraryAdopt-a-Librarya literacy based crime prevention a literacy based crime prevention

programprogram

……fighting crime one book at a fighting crime one book at a timetime

Our Mission…Our Mission…To prevent crime by helping children To prevent crime by helping children

and teens develop their literacy skills.and teens develop their literacy skills.

Fact: 22% of Canadians over the age of 16 are in the lowest level of literacy

Good literacy skills…Good literacy skills… build self esteembuild self esteem provide tools to make well-informed choicesprovide tools to make well-informed choices make the individual part of the communitymake the individual part of the community

……all part of a all part of a long termlong term crime prevention crime prevention strategy.strategy.

Fact: 65% of Canadians entering prison cannot read or write well

The program works…The program works…by encouraging local police to support by encouraging local police to support

the public library in their work of the public library in their work of bringing good reading materials and bringing good reading materials and programming to children and teens.programming to children and teens.

Fact: people with limited literacy skills have fewer opportunities for training and employment… and fewer options in life.

Background…Background… started in 2000 in Pictou and Antigonish Counties, started in 2000 in Pictou and Antigonish Counties,

Nova ScotiaNova Scotia RCMP and Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library form RCMP and Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library form

a partnership to work together to build the programa partnership to work together to build the program now in over 40 communities across Canadanow in over 40 communities across Canada supported by Roch Carrier, National Librarian, Myra supported by Roch Carrier, National Librarian, Myra

A. Freeman, Lieutenant Governor of NS, NS A. Freeman, Lieutenant Governor of NS, NS Department of Education, and many othersDepartment of Education, and many others

several national awards including Stan Heath/CLA several national awards including Stan Heath/CLA and Canada Post Literacyand Canada Post Literacy

Example:Example:Pictou and Antigonish counties…Pictou and Antigonish counties…

PolicePolice negotiatenegotiate discounts for discounts for

books, equipment, and books, equipment, and suppliessupplies

engageengage community community groups to be involved groups to be involved with the librarywith the library

advocateadvocate for the for the importance of literacy importance of literacy at an early ageat an early age

provideprovide help in help in reaching out to kids and reaching out to kids and parentsparents

seekseek funds and funds and donations for books, donations for books, supplies, and incentives supplies, and incentives from businessesfrom businesses

LibraryLibrary buildbuild good book good book

collectionscollections createcreate programs that programs that

engage children and engage children and teensteens

involveinvolve the community the community in the library’s futurein the library’s future

workwork in common with in common with police to build a safer police to build a safer and happier and happier communitycommunity

more than tripled the number of kids participating in library more than tripled the number of kids participating in library programsprograms

on average, 12,000 books are read by kids each summer during on average, 12,000 books are read by kids each summer during the annual reading programthe annual reading program

the library has become a comfortable and welcoming place for the library has become a comfortable and welcoming place for children and youth with good programmingchildren and youth with good programming

over $50,000 in funds raised to purchase booksover $50,000 in funds raised to purchase books over $1 million in donated books, supplies, equipment, and over $1 million in donated books, supplies, equipment, and

reading incentives from local and national companiesreading incentives from local and national companies strong partnerships formed with local service groups and strong partnerships formed with local service groups and

provincial / federal agenciesprovincial / federal agencies

Example:Example:Pictou and Antigonish Pictou and Antigonish counties…counties…

How can it work in my How can it work in my community…community… PolicePolice… go to your local library, ask to see the Chief … go to your local library, ask to see the Chief

Librarian or Chief Executive OfficerLibrarian or Chief Executive Officer LibraryLibrary… go to your local police and ask to see the … go to your local police and ask to see the

community policing officercommunity policing officer discuss your goals and directions and notice what you discuss your goals and directions and notice what you

have in common with each other. Learn from each other!have in common with each other. Learn from each other! develop a strategy based upon your own community develop a strategy based upon your own community

needsneeds start talking about literacy and crime to your businesses, start talking about literacy and crime to your businesses,

groups, politicians, and agencies. Get them involved!groups, politicians, and agencies. Get them involved!

Visit Visit www.parl.ns.ca/adoptalibrarywww.parl.ns.ca/adoptalibrary and register and register

Fighting crime one book at Fighting crime one book at a timea time

Adopt-A-Library Literacy ProgramAdopt-A-Library Literacy Program

www.parl.ns.ca/adoptalibrarywww.parl.ns.ca/adoptalibrary

“Better to see them in libraries now than in trouble with the law later.”

Constable John Kennedy, Stellarton RCMP Detachment