A new program called The Little Book Bug distributes boxes of children’s books at spots frequented by families to encourage reading and literacy in the early years. 

The boxes, which are placed around Warrnambool, are signed with ‘borrow me, read me, return me for someone else to enjoy me’.

It is a Warrnambool City Council (WCC) Children’s and Family Services initiative and books were donated by Corangamite Regional Libraries.

WCC early years intervention and support service manager Sharyn Trewin said it was a collaboration with Beyond the Bell, an initiative aimed at higher VCE attainment rates.

“We recognise there are so many benefits of children having stories and literature in the home,” Mrs Trewin said.  “There’s lifelong benefits for their learning to have that literacy. In our community we have identified that that literacy is lacking so that’s why we’re thinking ‘let’s do something’.”

They’re free to borrow and can to be returned to any box, with the service based on an honesty system.

Mrs Trewin said it was a great opportunity to connect with the community and “ensure that families that may not have books in their home will see it as a priority and that no child is disadvantaged”. 

South West TAFE intermediate and senior VCAL students are helping roll out the program and make it sustainable. Student Felicity Went, 18, said they sorted the books this week and location suggestions included Centrelink, the train station and medical clinics.

“The children read it, they can, borrow it and return it somewhere else,” Felicity said. “It’s a hands-on project that shows us VCAL students are doing something good for the community,” she said.  

Callan Hadfield, 16, said they would distribute more boxes of books this week. “We’ve started getting them out and about but now we’re putting them out at more places.” 

Bray Forde, 17 said it was good to be involved in a community project. “I reckon the kids are going to enjoy being able to read the books while they’re out.”