Early literacy program launched at Manning Library

Parents, grandparents and children joined Hon. David Templeman, Minister for Culture and the Arts and Mayor Sue Doherty at the City of South Perth’s Manning Library today to launch new reading materials designed to develop literacy skills of infants aged 0-3 years with vision impairments.  

Part of the State Library's award-winning Better Beginnings family literacy program, the new resource packs include Braille-embossed editions of the Baby Ways publication and an audio CD with Baby Ways sung and narrated. 

Also available for loan for free from local public libraries including South Perth and Manning Library will be a 'touch and feel' version of the resources pack that provides parents and carers with highly tactile 3D objects that relate to the Baby Ways book.

Through its 14-year partnership with Rio Tinto, State Government funding and the support of public libraries, the State Library produces and distributes reading materials and literacy messages to 96 per cent of newborn babies and 99.8 per cent of kindergarten pupils across the State.

“The City of South Perth has been a supporter of Better Beginnings for over 10 years, we are incredibly proud to be involved in such an important early literacy program,” Mayor Sue Doherty said.

“Sharing the joy of reading and storytime with children from birth is vital for their development and success at school as they grow older.”

The release of Better Beginnings resources for vision impaired infants is a milestone in the achievements of this award-winning early childhood literacy program.

"Parents play an important role as their child's first teacher and should take the opportunity to enjoy this special bonding time,” Minster Templeman said.

"Since 2004, Rio Tinto has contributed to the literacy of a generation of Western Australian children. This is a remarkable contribution to the people of this State."