Adopt-a-Library a literacy based crime prevention program …fighting crime one book at a time

Our Mission… To prevent crime by helping children and teens develop their literacy skills. Fact: 22% of Canadians over the age of 16 are in the lowest level of literacy

Good literacy skills… build self esteem build self esteem provide tools to make well-informed choices provide tools to make well-informed choices make the individual part of the community make the individual part of the community …all part of a long term crime prevention strategy. Fact: 65% of Canadians entering prison cannot read or write well

The program works… by encouraging local police to support the public library in their work of bringing good reading materials and programming to children and teens. Fact: people with limited literacy skills have fewer opportunities for training and employment… and fewer options in life.

Background… started in 2000 in Pictou and Antigonish Counties, Nova Scotia started in 2000 in Pictou and Antigonish Counties, Nova Scotia RCMP and Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library form a partnership to work together to build the program RCMP and Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library form a partnership to work together to build the program now in over 40 communities across Canada now in over 40 communities across Canada supported by Roch Carrier, National Librarian, Myra A. Freeman, Lieutenant Governor of NS, NS Department of Education, and many others supported by Roch Carrier, National Librarian, Myra A. Freeman, Lieutenant Governor of NS, NS Department of Education, and many others several national awards including Stan Heath/CLA and Canada Post Literacy several national awards including Stan Heath/CLA and Canada Post Literacy

Example: Pictou and Antigonish counties… Police negotiate discounts for books, equipment, and supplies negotiate discounts for books, equipment, and supplies engage community groups to be involved with the library engage community groups to be involved with the library advocate for the importance of literacy at an early age advocate for the importance of literacy at an early age provide help in reaching out to kids and parents provide help in reaching out to kids and parents seek funds and donations for books, supplies, and incentives from businesses seek funds and donations for books, supplies, and incentives from businessesLibrary build good book collections build good book collections create programs that engage children and teens create programs that engage children and teens involve the community in the library’s future involve the community in the library’s future work in common with police to build a safer and happier community work in common with police to build a safer and happier community

more than tripled the number of kids participating in library programs more than tripled the number of kids participating in library programs on average, 12,000 books are read by kids each summer during the annual reading program on average, 12,000 books are read by kids each summer during the annual reading program the library has become a comfortable and welcoming place for children and youth with good programming the library has become a comfortable and welcoming place for children and youth with good programming over $50,000 in funds raised to purchase books over $50,000 in funds raised to purchase books over $1 million in donated books, supplies, equipment, and reading incentives from local and national companies over $1 million in donated books, supplies, equipment, and reading incentives from local and national companies strong partnerships formed with local service groups and provincial / federal agencies strong partnerships formed with local service groups and provincial / federal agencies Example: Pictou and Antigonish counties…

How can it work in my community… Police… go to your local library, ask to see the Chief Librarian or Chief Executive Officer Police… go to your local library, ask to see the Chief Librarian or Chief Executive Officer Library… go to your local police and ask to see the community policing officer Library… go to your local police and ask to see the community policing officer discuss your goals and directions and notice what you have in common with each other. Learn from each other! discuss your goals and directions and notice what you have in common with each other. Learn from each other! develop a strategy based upon your own community needs develop a strategy based upon your own community needs start talking about literacy and crime to your businesses, groups, politicians, and agencies. Get them involved! start talking about literacy and crime to your businesses, groups, politicians, and agencies. Get them involved! Visit and register Visit and registerwww.parl.ns.ca/adoptalibrary

Fighting crime one book at a time Adopt-A-Library Literacy Program “Better to see them in libraries now than in trouble with the law later.” Constable John Kennedy, Stellarton RCMP Detachment