Reading Seeds Program (2016 - )

INTRODUCTION

Reading Seeds Logo

Reading plays an important part of lifelong learning, and this necessary skill should be developed as soon as a child is born. Reading Seeds is a literacy program for children together with their parents, in which the passion for literacy is being developed during their critical time in the development of their lifelong literacy.

The more children read, the more things they will know and the more confidence they will gain. When children developed the passion for reading from young, as they grow, they become more motivated to continue reading and learning. The findings from an article published in “Child Language Teaching and Therapy, December 11, 2013” highlight the potential of reading and talking to infants, are not just for language and literacy development but also for other aspects of cognitive development.

Reading Seeds 3.0 Kits

The Reading Seeds program is a continuation of the Born To Read program organized by Pustaka Negeri Sarawak beginning in 2004. This program aims to inculcate a reading culture from birth and strengthen communication relationships in between mother and baby through reading. This initiative is aimed at supporting the mandate PUSTAKA in the Sarawak State Library Ordinance (SSLO),1999 as follows:

1. to hold seminars, courses and other similar events to promote the use of its library resources, or the information or data collected or maintained by the State Library or at its disposal;
2. to promote or stimulate interest in reading, library works and to promote literary arts and the usage of modern technology in the transmission and dissemination of knowledge information, information and data."

The advantage of the Reading Seeds programme is that it provides an opportunity to open up cooperation with government departments, private sector, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and individuals to expose their role in increasing literacy rates in Sarawak.

Reading Seeds has established smart collaborations between PUSTAKA and agencies to contribute in terms of expertise, logistics, finance and time. Collaboration with smart partners has established an understanding in continuing the implementation of the Reading Seeds program.

Through the Reading Seeds programme, newborns in government hospitals and clinics throughout Sarawak will receive special reading materials kits provided. This reading material is the work of a local writer in Sarawak of high quality and quality. Therefore, this programme can also be used as a platform to develop the talents and abilities of a writer in the field of creative writing.

Reading Seeds program is to promote early literacy in the early stages of a child’s life. Through this program, parents too play an imperative supporting role in the efforts to develop reading culture in the family and eventually increase the level of literacy among all levels of society.

Our dream:

• A reading and knowledgeable society

Reading Seeds Ecosystem

Our responsibility:

• Embedding reading habits early in child's growing year.

Program objectives:

1. to start reading culture as early as possible amongst Sarawakians
2. create sustainable community based early literacy program opportunities for Sarawak.

HISTORY

The project came about through the collaborative efforts of the Pustaka Negeri Sarawak and Kuching North City Hall.

The rationale behind the programme came from research showing that a child starts learning from birth. Books help babies develop visual understanding as well as the ability to pick up details. Children also learn most actively from birth to five years of age.4 From 2003 to 2016, the Sarawak State Library have implemented 3 phases of Family Literacy initiatives, phase 1 (Born To Read: 2001 - 2011); phase 2 (Every Child Ready To Read; 2012 - 2015 and phase 3 (Reading Seeds: 2015 - ). Parents, care givers, toddlers, clinic assistants and nurses at mother and child clinics are engaged (through community based reading workshop and evaluation) to help enhance the skills required for independent reading and lifelong learning.

In term of urban-rural disparities, literacy rates for the rural areas of Sarawak were significantly lower compared to urban areas. Through the Reading Seeds program, the aim is for each baby born in Sarawak's hospital will get a free reading kit (Reading Seeds Baby Pack). The reading kit includes one bag, six baby books, one reading manual for the parent, library registration card and information of the nearest libraries. The Sarawak State library partnership with the State (Ministry of Local Government, Sarawak Health Department ) and Federal Government (Ministry of Welfare, Women and Family Development, Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia, and the National Library of Malaysia). Estimated projected target from 2016 to 2020, the program expected to reach more than 190,000 babies and increasing the number of children and parent registering at libraries. Reading Seeds program creates significant social value for parents, children and the state of Sarawak, Malaysia, enhancing literacy and reading culture.