BC Summer Reading Club is excited to share that we have received a one-time $100,000 grant for accessibility initiatives. This funding will allow us to continue to broaden and deepen accessibility in all aspects of the BC Summer Reading Club over the next several years. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Municipal Affairs for this funding, part of the $8 million for public libraries recently announced by the Province. This support will allow us to respond to evolving needs, and to continue to increase and improve accessible options for BC children and their families.
Since 2020, the BC Summer Reading Club has been transitioning to a more accessible hybrid model that maintains the popular traditional print program, while incorporating a virtual experience that features an online reading tracker and new website with activities and events. Through the course of the pandemic, we learned that many different factors determine how a child participates in the program and it’s critical that we provide accessible options. This ensures every child has the opportunity to experience a Summer Reading Club that truly meets their needs.
We look forward to continuing to work with public libraries across the province to provide fun, educational, and community-oriented programming materials and new staff training opportunities, and to ensuring that every child can participate in BC Summer Reading Club.
Thank you to library staff across the province for the commitment and effort you invest in creating amazing Summer Reading Club experiences for children and families in your communities. This grant shows the value and impact of that work.
We’ll be sharing updates via the YAACS listserv and directly to your library’s SRC contact as we move forward – stay tuned!
BC Summer Reading Club
BC Library Association
