Sir Gavin Williamson spoke in Parliament about the importance of reading and praised libraries in South Staffordshire.
During a Parliamentary debate on improving children’s access to books, Sir Gavin emphasised the positive impact reading has on a child’s development. In particular, he asserted the importance of each school having a library and of protecting community libraries against closures.
He also took the opportunity to praise a number of libraries in South Staffordshire, such as Perton, for their vibrant programme of interactive events and projects, which includes regular coffee mornings and a “rhyme time” for babies and toddlers.
According to a National Literacy Trust survey, 41% of parents said that there was no quiet space for their children to read at home, and 92% thought that it was important for children to have access to a good library. Meanwhile, 73% of pupils who have access to a library attain higher literacy scores than those who do not.
Sir Gavin said: “Access to libraries is incredibly important, whether it is in encouraging a child’s development or simply in building a community. We in South Staffordshire are lucky to have to a number of fantastic libraries on our doorstep which go above and beyond to get more people reading. I applaud the volunteers who make this possible and encourage all my constituents to pay their local library a visit.”
