Changing Cultures initiative allows more children to celebrate World Book Day in Libraries throughout Wales

To encourage even more children and young people to celebrate World Book Day, and to engage with libraries across Wales, Huw Lewis, the Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage – through the Welsh Government’s Changing Cultures initiative – has increased his support to activities in libraries in all twenty-two Local Authorities across Wales. The World Book Day activities will include author visits, story time sessions and writing workshops.

The Welsh Government is also supporting a fortnight of activities at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth, and the Library will be organising free events for at least 12 schools from Powys, Carmarthenshire and Gwynedd.

Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage, Huw Lewis, said: "Our Changing Cultures initiative is about new ways of sharing our museums, archives, libraries and historic places with young people and their families, particularly those from less well off backgrounds. It will also help support agencies and the cultural sector to work even better together

Angharad Tomos, Head of the Children's Books and Reading Promotion Department at the Welsh Books Council, said: “We are delighted to receive this additional support from the Welsh Government through the Changing Cultures initiative. These events around World Book Day are a great way to connect with children and their families, and hopefully they will inspire a love of reading to last a lifetime. The additional funding has enabled the National Library of Wales, and Library Services across Wales, to offer a programme of exciting and enjoyable activities based around books and reading.”

Owen Llywelyn, on behalf of the National Library of Wales, said: “The National Library of Wales will be celebrating World Book Day by delivering 12 workshops to primary schools. The schools that will visit the Library are Castell Caereinion, Montgomery, Griffith Jones, Dyffryn Trannon, Llechyfedach, Dewi Sant Llanelli, Llan-non Llanelli, Glantwymyn, Cefn Coch, Franksbridge, Llanfair Caereinion and Dyffryn Banw.”

“Pupils will learn about the vast collection of books held at the National Library; they will see the smallest published book in the world, measuring 1mm x 1mm; enormous ‘elephant’ books, and an original copy of the first Welsh Bible. They will also learn more about some of the 6 million books that form part of the National Library’s collection; they will see a manuscript from the Middle Ages, and shown how books were produced before the printing press was invented.”

Further Information

Nia Lewis, nsl@llgc.org.uk or 01970 632996

World Book Day 2013 will be held on Thursday 7 March with many enjoyable and interesting events and activities taking place across Wales. For more information, please follow us on Facebook Diwrnod y Llyfr / World Book Day and Twitter @DYLLCymruWBDWales. We would be grateful if you could use the following hashtags in any correspondence:#changingcultures #newidpethe