WITH more than 300 babies born in the Inverell region each year, the library has launched a new project to provide all newborns in the shire with a handmade bag of specially selected books to support early literacy.
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The program commenced this month, with Inverell Shire Council mayor and library manager Sonya Lange visiting the hospital to present a book bag of to Inverell's first baby of 2020, little Dylan Bryant and his mother Hannah Nolan.
Inverell Shire Council mayor says the new project is a joint initiative between the library and the Friends of the Inverell Library.
"It's a wonderful initiative that demonstrates our commitment to providing as many early learning opportunities as possible to children in our shire.
"Reading to babies is a great way to nurture skills including talking, understanding, imagination, listening, concentration and creativity."
Library manager, Sonya Lange says the team at the library put the call out to the community in December to find crafty locals who would like to sew a book bag for newborns, which has attracted a strong response.
"We do already have a team of helpers crafting bags, but more volunteers are welcome, so anyone interested can call us at the library and we also have a display in the library.
"Residents can help by making bags or by donating suitable fabric for others to make the bags."
Instructions for creating a book bag including required dimensions can be found at the Inverell Public Library Facebook page or by calling the library on 67288130.
