Education Minister Mildred Dover said additional investments are being made in school libraries as one of several strategies to help students improve their literacy skills throughout the school years. “In addition to the regular funding that we provide each year for school library collections, we have allocated an additional $10 per student for library books both in 2006-2007 and 2007-2008. This adds up to about $450,000 in new funding for library books,” she said.

A significant portion of the funding will be used to purchase non-fiction resources for boys. “Current research indicates that more literacy resources are needed today to engage students, in particular nonfiction resources for boys,” said Minister Dover. ”The research also suggests that girls, particularly at the elementary level, will choose nonfiction if they have the choice at their reading level.”

The new purchases for 2006-2007 include 10,161 English titles, 1,474 French titles, 21 sets of encyclopaedias, 28 sets of reference books and 95 reference titles.

The books were selected by teacher-librarians and teachers at schools throughout the Island. Staff of Provincial Library Services helped to order the books.