Tag: literacy

Literacy Support Services

Leap Into Literacy

Leap into Literacy is a free one-to-one literacy tutoring program for adults who would like support with reading, writing or numeracy. Our trained volunteers are matched with you to work on your own specific goal.

The focus of our program is goals-based. There are no tests, and all sessions are tailored to the needs of the learner.

You and your volunteer tutor will be matched based on availability and best fit. You will meet for one hour each week, at a time and library branch that is convenient for you both.

Our Regional Literacy Officer will talk to you about your availability, goals and location preferences in a short informal interview prior to matching you with a tutor.

Are you eligible?

You are able to access Leap into Literacy as a learner if you require basic literacy support.

You must have a goal to improve your literacy.

Eligibility for this program will be determined during the interview.

Contact

To express your interest in the service, or ask any questions, please call 03 9800 6417 or submit a query here.

English Conversation Circles

Is English your second language?

Meet other adults who are learning English and practice your English speaking and listening skills in a relaxed and safe environment with our friendly library staff.

People from all cultures are warmly welcome to join our conversation circle.

Are you eligible?

Adults from all cultures and language backgrounds are welcome. As this is not a class you must have some basic English to participate in the program.

Where and when?

Find a Conversation Circle

More information

Talk to our branch staff or just come along to a session to find out more.

Reading Buddies

Parents – do you struggle helping your child with their home reader? Are you not sure how to help your children choose what to read?

Reading Buddies are here to help!

This program is the perfect opportunity for parents to get some support to help their primary school-aged children to read.

Parents/caregivers and their children will

  • Listen to stories
  • Play games
  • Read together supported by our volunteer Reading Buddy

Are you eligible?

You are a parent/caregiver who would like some more support with your children’s primary school home reading.

To ensure you get the most out of the program, we have a limit of 2 children per adult.

Adults must participate in the session with their child.

Where and when?

Every Thursday during school terms, 4pm-5pm, at Knox Library.

More information

View these events on our calendar to learn more – or just come along and give it a try!

1000 Books Before School

Join the challenge and read 1000 books before the first day of school!

Reading together is the best way to encourage a love of books in your child. Reading daily helps children develop their vocabulary, understanding of themselves and others, and the skills they will need to be successful readers when they start school.

Your Library’s 1000 Books Before School program is all about encouraging reading in whatever way works best for your family. Whether it’s a book you’ve read together at home, a story from kinder, a library Storytime session, or your child’s dog-eared old favourite, log them all in your 1000 Books Before School reading record pack. You’ll also earn rewards at every step of your journey.

There is no fee to join. Simply complete the form below, collect your starter-pack, and start reading!

Why read 1000 books before school?

Early literacy skills are an essential building block for lifelong learning beyond primary and high school.

Research shows that reading with a child several times a week develops their literacy skills up to a year beyond their peers.

It’s easier than you might think to read 1000 books.

If you read three books a day, you can read more than 1000 books in a year. If you read just one book a day, you will finish in less than 3 years.

Repetition is great for developing early literacy skills, so if you read the same book more than once, you can count it each time you read.

Grandparent reading to young girl
Parent reading to baby

Every book counts

Every book that your child completes, or actively listens to, counts. This includes stories read at Storytime sessions, day-care and kindergarten, even the same book over and over again.

Reading or listening? Print or digital?

Borrowing physical books from your local library isn’t the only way Your Library can help you achieve 1000 books before school.

Audiobooks are a fantastic way to keep reading to kids. You can access more than 1,200 children’s audiobooks through our library catalogue.

On top of that, there are thousands and thousands of popular kids’ audiobooks available for free download at any time on the Libby app or BorrowBox app.

You can also watch hundreds of Australia’s favourite children’s book read just for you at Story Box Library. The stories are read by some of Australia’s favourite storytellers, including Justine Clarke, Nick Cave, Missy Higgins, Peter Hitchener, Andy Griffiths, Sally Rippin and many more.

How does it work?

Step 1: Join Online

Step 1: Fill out the form below.

Step 2: Collect Your Reading Pack

Step 2: Collect your reading record pack from your local library.

Step 3: Start reading

Step 3: Start reading! Any level, any format, any number of repeat reads.

Step 4: track progress

Step 4: Track your progress, achieve milestones, and collect rewards!

Fill out this form to start your 1000 Books journey!

Subscribe to our Children's Newsletter

Keep up to date with the latest children’s news with this monthly newsletter. Events, resources, announcements, competitions and much more – sign up now!

Check out these latest kids' reads!

Special Collections

Your Library offers several special interest collections around the region.

Browse the items below to learn more about our collections and how to access them.

The Adult Literacy Collection is housed at Boronia and Realm Libraries. It includes books on grammar, spelling, and arithmetic, as well as novels for those learning to read.

Browse the collection here.

Board games are available for loan from the following branches: Belgrave, Boronia, Croydon and Realm.

Members may borrow up to 2 board games at a time. The collection is searchable via the catalogue and items may be reserved by members at no charge.

Most library branches carry Choice Magazine, including back issues lasting up to 2 years. View the collection, and place reservations, here.

Or, access Choice online using a Library PC. Enjoy full, 100% free access to every Choice review and product comparison. Please ask library staff for login information. Book a Library PC here.

The Dementia Care Collection is designed for people living with dementia and their carers.

The collection features a range of materials like photobooks, puzzles, tools, and other objects designed to provide stimulation and keep the mind active. These materials help people living with dementia find pleasure and relaxation by offering valuable and varied mental stimulus.

Items may be borrowed like any other library item (3-week loan period, with two renewals). However, items must be reserved; library members can browse the collection here.

For more information, please contact Realm Library, or visit this page.

Children receive messages about gender everyday through behaviours, images, written and spoken words at home, at school and in other settings. Beyond Sparkles and Superheroes is a special book list that features children’s picture books themed on gender equality and equity. These picture books present child characters in a way that challenges gender stereotypes.

See the full list here.

These are just a sample of books available on the theme of gender equality or gender equity. They have been chosen because they are both enjoyable stories to read with your child and because they represent a range of approaches to the topic of gender equity.

Stories and books are a powerful learning tool for our children. Stories that depict children participating in a wide range of positive and diverse activities expands their horizons of what is possible. Stories Beyond Stereotypes features real and imaginary characters who follow their own path, unconstrained by gender stereotypes.

See the full list here.

A collection of books aimed at primary school children featuring real and imaginary characters who follow their own path, unconstrained by gender stereotypes.

Stories and books are a powerful learning tool for our children and stories that depict children participating in a wide range of positive and diverse activities expands their horizons of what is possible. The booklist has been collated to complement other books and traditional stories already available for our members.

Your Library collects adult fiction and non-fiction, junior material, magazines and newspapers in other languages. The collections are situated at the following branches, with the demographics of the local population in mind.

 

BRANCH →

LANGUAGE ↓

BAYSWATERCROYDONKNOX LIBRARY –
NGARRGOO		REALMROWVILLE
ChineseAdult Fiction & Non-Fiction
Junior Fiction & Non-Fiction
Teenage Fiction
DVDs
CDs		Adult Fiction & Non-Fiction
DVDs
Junior Fiction & Non-Fiction
Junior Picture Books		Adult Fiction & Non-Fiction
Junior Fiction & Non-Fiction
DVDs
CDs
Newspapers (China Melbourne Daily)		Adult Fiction & Non-Fiction
CDs
DVDs
Junior Fiction
Junior Picture Books		Adult Fiction & Non-Fiction
DVDs
Newspapers (China Melbourne Daily)
French  Junior Fiction  
German  Junior Fiction  
Italian  Junior Fiction  
Japanese  Junior Fiction  
Spanish  Junior Fiction  
Vietnamese  Junior Fiction
  

If your first language is not listed here, there may be a collection housed at a nearby library belonging to another library service. Public Libraries Victoria maintains this list of LOTE Collections in Victorian public libraries.

The University of Melbourne and Monash University also produce and maintain this comprehensive list of Asian Collections at public and university libraries in Victoria.

A collection of music scores is available for loan at Belgrave and Croydon Libraries. The collection covers a range of popular and classical music. The collection is fully searchable and items may be reserved by members at no charge.

See the full list here.

Your Library holds many local and national newspapers, including digital access. See the full list here.

The C-Pen ReaderPen is a brilliant literacy tool. It scans and reads written text out loud with natural speaking voices; stores text for later; and can look up and explain the meaning of words.

The ReaderPen converts printed text to speech and can help people with a range of difficulties including:
 
  • Dyslexia
  • Aphasia
  • Dementia
  • Down Syndrome
  • Vision Impairment

Hear the words through earphones, the built-in speaker, or plug in an external speaker if required.

Learn more, and reserve your ReaderPen, here.

The Seed Library is a free borrowing service aiming to cultivate a thriving community of gardeners and seed savers, while building and sharing knowledge, and fostering community resilience, self-reliance, and a culture of sharing.

You can donate seeds saved from your garden or leftover seeds from purchased packets. Just drop them in to any of our libraries.

Members can borrow up to 3 packets of seed for free! Plant/Grow the seeds in your garden, nurture plants to maturity and donate seed back to the library.

The Seed Library is currently available at  Bayswater, Belgrave, Boronia, Croydon, Ferntree Gully, Miller’s Homestead, Mooroolbark, Rowville and Yarra Junction libraries.

Console video games are available for loan from the following branches: Belgrave, Croydon, Healesville, Knox, Realm and Rowville (but they can be reserved for collection from any branch). Games are available for every major console. Members may borrow up to 2 console video games at a time. 

Search and reserve games here.