Media Release

Wednesday, 23 July 2008

Swan Hill Rural City Council and Sunraysia Institute of TAFE have further built upon their partnership, with the TAFE’s Diploma of Children’s Services students to conduct Wednesday morning storytimes at the Library, starting from today (Wednesday, 23 July).

Council’s Manager Cultural Development and Libraries Camille Cullinan said the library was pleased to be able to work with the local TAFE and to further build on the great partnership between the two organisations.

“The storytimes will provide a way for the students to put into practice what they have learned from their course,” Ms Cullinan said.

“Council and the Swan Hill Library is very pleased to be working with our local Sunraysia Institute of TAFE campus to assist with professional development opportunities for their students,” Ms Cullinan said.

“These storytimes will provide a way for these students to put into practice what they have learnt from their course, the library staff is very much looking forward to working with these students.”

Coordinator of Children’s Services at Sunraysia TAFE’s Swan Hill campus Gabrielle Schammer, said the students would be gaining valuable experience in story reading and story telling as well as interacting with children, learning behaviour management and building partnerships with parents in the community.

“It is essential that these students develop a passion for supporting children in the early years to be exposed to the joys of reading and story telling,” Ms Schammer said.

“It is fantastic that the Swan Hill Library is allowing us to gain this experience. As teachers we can only do so much in the classroom environment, but there is nothing like seeing the excitement on children’s faces when they listen to their favourite story.

“If children love books and listening to stories, they will go on to loving reading.”

The storytime sessions will be held every Wednesday morning at 10.30am. Several stories will be read, followed by simple activities.

For more information regarding the storytime sessions, please contact the Swan Hill Library on 5036 2480.