One Million New Books In School Libraries
McGuinty Government Investing In Literacy, Supporting Ontario Businesses
Ministry of Education
Elementary students started the school year with more than one million new books in school libraries, and there are more on the way.
School libraries play an important role in encouraging young students to develop strong literacy skills and a love of reading. It is essential that those libraries have up-to-date collections for all students.
Over one million library books were delivered to schools this summer, while about 700,000 more are expected before the end of this school year.
Last January, the government selected 72 Ontario-based vendors, and negotiated discounts up to 50 per cent for school boards. To date, this has saved boards about $3 million and allowed them to purchase 175,000 more books. More savings and additional books are expected during the school year.
Quick Facts
- School boards received an initial investment of $15 million in February and an additional $10 million in May, for a total investment of $25 million to purchase library books.
- Ninety-nine per cent of the initial investment went to businesses in 37 Ontario cities.
- Over 40,000 additional Grade 3, 6 and 9 students are meeting or exceeding the provincial standard in reading, writing and math, compared to six years ago.
Quotes
Strong literacy skills are crucial for future success. By ensuring that our elementary school libraries are stocked with up-to-date and affordable books and resources, we're giving young students more tools to succeed."
We knew that our library needed updating to reflect new curriculum needs and materials for our diverse school community. This funding provides valuable resources for students and for teachers to continue delivering effective instruction. Thanks to the significant discounts, we received more value for our money. Our students are definitely benefiting from a more current and exciting library collection."
Karen Richardson
As an independent company, the business that this funding brought to us was wonderful. It gave us - and other small retailers and distributors from Ontario - the opportunity to build strong relationships with new clients and to expand our market."
Scott Millar