The act of reading plays a crucial role in the lives of people of all ages. Research tells us that being a confident, competent, and enthusiastic reader has positive effects on the personal, social and intellectual wellbeing of people from early childhood to senior years. The writer, Jeanette Winterson, captures the importance of reading when she states, ‘We have an inside that needs to be nourished by reading and this will provide us all with a complex language to deal with our complex world.’ Winterson speaks passionately about the wonderful gift books were to her as she was growing up. She calls them her ‘magic carpets’ and declares their power to ‘take you places’ and to ‘be your friends.’ During her childhood, growing up in the English city of Manchester, the local library was the hub of the community, and no child was deprived of access to books. Winterson describes this world as ‘rich in possibility, wonder and awe.’

Modelling reading in the home is a wonderful way of supporting your child’s reading, writing and learning. In 2022 a parent library was established as part of our Mount Carmel Home-School Literacy Partnership program – a program which invites and supports parent engagement in the education of their children. Over five hundred pre-loved books supplied by the Mount Carmel community found new homes during the Parent Library events held throughout the year. This year, we have set up a permanent Parent Library bookshelf in the uniform shop which is located under the administration building adjacent to the carpark and basketball courts. The collection of books includes a diverse range of adult fiction and nonfiction, children’s literature, English, Mathematics and Science textbooks and spiritual writings. Parents and carers are invited to look through the selection of books and simply take home any of interest. These books can then become part of their own home library or may be donated back to the Mount Carmel Parent Library after reading. A crate is situated beside the bookshelf for any books returned or donated to the collection. The opening hours for Term 2 are Monday 8am to 2pm, Wednesday 8am to 4.30pm and Thursday 8am to 2pm.

Clare Murphy

English Coordinator and Literacy Instructional Coach