Pictured is Seanna Bailey, 9, Trey Bailey, 4, Kristen Winfield, 7, Karmyn Bushell, 5, and Brycen Bushell, 7.

ELMSDALE: Word games, spelling tests, yummy refreshments, children of all ages, and a karaoke machine? That’s what kicked off the Family Literacy Day at the Elmsdale Library on Jan. 30.

Although the national literacy day is normally held Jan. 27, the library used the weekend to hold an event that would kick off their winter reading program for families that runs until March 20.

“This year’s theme for Family Literacy day was music, hence the karaoke machine as a grand prize,” said Branch manager Karen King.

For the last few years, the Elmsdale Branch has partnered with East Hants Adult Learning Association to provide a program for the public for Family Literacy Day. Although the weather wasn’t the greatest and there was a massive snow fall the night before, King said she was pleased with the turnout.

“The day exceeded our expectations; there were 133 people in attendance. Family Literacy Day has been part of our mandate now for a long time,” said King.

Family Literacy Day was started in 1999 by ABC Canada Literacy Foundation, to encourage families to read and learn together on a daily basis. In its 12th year, families are able to participate in literacy activities held in schools and libraries that have become involved across the country. Last year about 300,000 Canadians were recorded to have participated.

“It’s actually grown to something that’s really great in the past 12 years. I think it’s great that more and more people are participating and understanding that literacy is a really important part of life,” said Ashley Tilley, Communications Coordinator for ABC Canada.

According to ABC Canada, most recent studies say 40 per cent of adult Canadians struggle with literacy to some degree, and fall below level three on the literacy scale, which is at about high school completion.

“That doesn’t necessarily mean that they can’t read; they struggle with certain aspects of literacy whether it be writing or reading certain documents. It’s kind of a hidden cause that most people don’t know about, so this is one of the ways we like to reach adults, through family literacy,” said Tilley.

Tilley also says the organization picks a theme every year to make it more fun. With this year’s theme, being music, it was somewhat difficult to incorporate music related activities in the limited space at the Elmsdale Library. Some of the activities throughout the day were ‘death by spelling’, where older kids had to pick out the misspelled word in a paragraph, while younger children were encouraged to seek out King, and to a song to her. Once they did, they’d receive a ballot for the grand prize and two smaller prizes of gifts bags with literacy related activities and books.

“It’s to encourage families to read together, that has been our priority. Every family is different, but it’s just to encourage reading in general,” said King.

King hopes the good turnout at the Family Literacy Day event will be extended through to the winter reading program. The program is to encourage families to read, but it’s also open to everyone who takes out a book during the winter reading program.

“Anybody can enter their name for a prize draw for six different prizes, and we keep track to see who takes out the most books. It’s been very good the last few years. One year we had 370 people participate, another year we had 400,” said King.

“They’re rewarded for coming into the library and reading. It’s really to encourage people to come to the library and give them something to do with the winter time during the blahs, just as a pick me up,” added King.

For more information, visit http://cehlibrary.ednet.ns.ca/, and click on the Elmsdale Branch.

acano@enfieldweeklypress.com