Launch of the Dundalk / Newry Library Project “Books Across the Border”
Remarks by President McAleese At the launch of the Dundalk / Newry Library Project "Books Across the Border" Carrickdale Hotel
I am delighted to be here with you to launch this interesting cross border reading project - which has been jointly developed by Dundalk and Newry Libraries - and I am pleased to present prizes to the very worthy winners of the competitions organised by the Libraries.
I understand that this project enabled the two libraries, which are less than fifteen miles apart, to co-operate and work together for the first time and that it has been made possible through support from the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation - a programme which has contributed significantly to the promotion of peace and reconciliation in the Border Region – encouraging co-operation and developing understanding across communities.
The "Books Across the Border" project, represents a significant degree of co-operation between the library staff in Newry and Dundalk - to involving the exchange of ideas and the hosting of joint events. The library involvement has served to forge links between teenagers, North and South - who through their entries to the ‘Peace means….’creative writing competition have demonstrated an overwhelming desire for lasting peace.
The project which focuses on Irish authors - especially those who write for teenagers and deal specifically with 'the Troubles' – shows how reading can contribute to young people’s understanding of their differences by reading about themselves in a shared context. It also demonstrates how libraries can provide opportunities for parents to learn about children's literature, with a view to helping their children develop a reading habit for life.
The birth of a new child is a cause of joy and celebration for parents. The young baby is the centre of their universe and all their energies are directed towards caring for this new life. As the child grows and develops - they are filled with hopes and dreams of a great future for their child. It is in the nature of all parents to want to do the very best we can for our children, and to prepare them in every way possible for the challenges that life will present to them.
For most of us, an image that readily comes to mind when thinking of a young toddler, is that of a parent reading a bedtime story. In the hustle and bustle of today's busy world - with many demands being made on our time – we are conscious of the need to spend quality time with our children - to nurture that very close bond that we had with our child when first born.
Bedtime stories are an essential part of a child’s development – they consolidate and extend personal experience, they fire the imagination, broaden language and have a significant impact on future education attainment. Eventually we break with the habit of reading with a child as they become independent readers.
Children who experience being read to will in time want to read for themselves - and the task of learning the skills involved in reading will come more easily to them. Reading and the love of books are at the core of education. As the Irish-born essayist and playwright Sir Richard Steele said
‘Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body’. Not only are good reading skills essential for making progress at school, but it is important to cultivate an interest in reading so that the child will experience the enjoyment of reading for leisure. A love of books is one of the greatest gifts that a parent can give a child and one of the best ways to spend time with our children is in the shared experience of reading a good book.
I thank you for your warm welcome to me this evening. I congratulate Dundalk and Newry libraries for your proven commitment to providing excellence in public service and for playing your part in providing cross-border and cross-community understanding. I hope that the spirit of co-operation so clearly evidenced in developing this insightful project will continue to grow and develop further in the years ahead.
I will leave you with a quote from Samuel Johnson 'A man ought to read just as inclination leads him; For what he reads as a task will do him little good'