Joint Media Release
21 May 2007

Books for Newborns launched in Manukau

From next month, every newborn baby living under the flight path to Auckland International Airport will receive a Books for Newborns gift pack, thanks to funding from the Auckland Airport Community Trust.

The Books for Newborns project, designed to encourage literacy in Manukau, is a partnership between the City of Manukau Education Trust (COMET) and Manukau City Council Libraries, with support from Plunket and the Books for Babes Trust.

The pack, distributed by Otara and Papatoetoe Plunket nurses and Southseas Healthcare, contains a colourful Buzzy Bee board book, promotional material about library services, with the added incentive of a second free gift to parents and caregivers who visit the library with their baby.

The pack is based on Wellington City Council’s successful Books to Babies pack which won a Pride in Print award in 2005 for its multi-coloured and multi-textured packet designed especially for small hands.

Chief Executive officer of COMET Bernadine Vester is thrilled that Books for Newborns is starting in Manukau. “It’s never too early to introduce infants to the joys of reading. This is also a great opportunity to encourage their parents and caregivers to take advantage of the wonderful facilities available to preschoolers at Manukau Libraries,” says Ms Vester.

COMET and Manukau Libraries are supporting the Books for Babes Trust in their bid to secure funding to extend the project to include all of Manukau in 2008. The Trust currently runs a similar programme in Auckland City.

ENDS

Note to Media – Areas covered by flight path include parts of Mangere, Otara, Papatoetoe and Flat Bush.

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