THUNDER BAY - Reading can not only create new and exciting worlds through imagination, it also plays an important role in helping children develop speech and language skills. The George Jeffery Children’s Centre is hoping to help young readers continue practicing their language skills with a little help from a little library.
On Wednesday, the George Jeffery Children’s Centre launched its first Little Library outside of the Brock Street office.
“It’s a way for families to connect with more books, have more accessibility with more books,” said Steve MacDonald, executive director of the George Jeffery Children’s Centre.
“Anyone can bring a book, take a book. It’s themed around children’s books in particularly. That was a key component of this through the speech and language services team. It’s available here for any clients of the centre, but also anyone here in the neighbourhood.”
The Little Library was developed in collaboration with the speech and language services team, who also developed a pamphlet with reading tips for kids reading their first words, to toddlers, to reading entire books.
“The library is super important to George Jeffery and the speech and language department because we wanted to address the barrier of availability of books for families in our community,” said Nicole Procopovici, a speech language pathologist.
But the speech and languages service team are hoping the Little Library will also help children who may be undergoing speech therapy.
“Often times in therapy, we will be teaching different goals and strategies to parents,” Procopovici said. “They will be able to then borrow a resource or a book and practice the goals in the comfort of their home in the child’s natural environment.”
“It enables the caregivers to take the care home,” MacDonald added. “It enables them to extend what is done at the centre and take it home, which will enable to children to be able to have more reading skills in their natural environment. It’s going to enhance their overall care.”
The Little Library was dedicated to the local chapter of Gentleman of Harmony, who have worked with the George Jeffery Children’s Centre for the past 40 years and have raised more than $50,000 for speech and language services.
Richard Kamo, music vice president of the local Gentlemen of Harmony chapter, said the organization has been supporting speech and language programs across North American since its formation.
“When our chapter formed, it was only natural we would do something similar in Thunder Bay,” he said. “We took on George Jeffery’s because they have a speech pathology department.”
Kamo added seeing the finished library outside the George Jeffery Centre is exciting and he is happy to see other little libraries popping up around the city. But having this particular library dedicated to the group is very humbling.
“We are happy to be associated with this organization and the fact that they acknowledge us like that is quite a compliment,” he said.
The books in the Little Library were donated by staff during a book drive last May, but anyone interested in donating gently used children’s books can drop them off at the Little Library near the front entrance of the George Jeffery Children’s Centre.
