Literacy
Literacy Projects
’Rotary Reads’ began as a joint Rotary Centennial project conceived and implemented by both the Rotary Club of Stratford and Festival City Club. It promotes early literacy by placing bookcases of kids’ books throughout the community. Book titles are selected by a local Children’s Librarian to include some of the best children’s literature available. Because of Rotary’s ongoing interest in literacy, the Rotary Club of Stratford decided to continue and to supplement the ‘Rotary Reads’ project by having Rotarians volunteer to read at regular times to children’s groups throughout the City.
PLOW (Public Library on Wheels) is a literacy initiative of the Stratford, Perth East, West Perth and St. Marys’ libraries. Through use of a van and a mobile library and Early Childhood Education expert, PLOW addresses low literacy levels in children by providing preschool & toddler reading programs and age appropriate lending collections to local communities currently under serviced by traditional library facilities.
An earlier PLOW van was donated by the Rotary Club of Stratford in 2006. The Rotary Club of Stratford also donated $500 in 2011 towards the purchase of new chapter books.
Rotary Writes is a short story competition done in collaboration with the Stratford Writers Festival. The competition encourages the development of both student and adult writing talent through prizes and recognition.
