It's National School Library Day on Monday, and teacher-librarians across the country are encouraging Canadians to drop whatever they're doing and pick up a book.
In conjunction with Canadian National School Library Day Oct. 24, the British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association (BCLTA) is sponsoring the fifth annual provincewide Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) Challenge.
More than 65,000 students, teachers, parents and school volunteers participated in the DEAR Challenge last year, and it has become a regular celebration of literacy in the province, according to a press release from the BCTLA.
Locally, several schools across School District 71 are celebrating National School Library Day, and it is also serving as a kickoff for Teen Read Week events at a number of schools, including Georges P. Vanier Secondary School, Highland Secondary School and Lake Trail Secondary School.
The BCTLA will continue to lobby the B.C. Liberal government, local members of the legislative assembly, and the Minister of Education to have the fourth Monday of every October recognized as B.C. School Library Day, according to the association.
The group also plans to continue its outreach work by connecting with parent groups around the province including local District Parent Advisory Committees and the provincial association, BCCPAC.
"In the future, the BCTLA hopes to bring Drop Everything and Read to a country-wide event highlighting the importance of national literacy," it stated.
For all the details about DEAR 2011 Challenge, visit the blog at http://dropeverythingandreadbc.ca, follow the group on Twitter @BCTLA_DEAR or find them on Facebook.