Worcester – On 7 February the Waterloo Library hosted its World Read Aloud Day event at the Mountain Mill Mall. This an annual celebration started in 2010 by the non-profit organisation LitWorld. The event aims to promote literacy as a fundamental human right by encouraging children to engage in the art of reading aloud.
Hosted at the Mountain Mill Mall, the event attracted a diverse audience from various cultural backgrounds, providing an opportunity to foster a love for reading among both children and adults. Unathi Mapongwana, a librarian from the library, emphasised the importance of reading aloud as a means to promote literacy beyond merely reading words on a page.
“We were here to encourage children and adults to read while also promoting the culture of reading so that they can be life-long readers,” Mapongwana stated.
Arie Fourie, Mountain Mill Marketing Manager, highlighted the significance of reading in enriching lives.
“I can’t imagine the world without reading. Every child should enjoy reading, because without it, the world would be a dull place,” Fourie remarked.
In addition to celebrating the joy of reading, the day also served as a recruitment drive for new library memberships. Parents were encouraged to bring their children’s birth certificates and proof of address to sign up for a library card, granting access to a wealth of books and internet resources at the library.
