Book lover rides extra miles

Malfroy School library manager Shirley Lane (left) with book recipient Wharekaponga Williams, 10, and mum Joeann Nicholls. Photo / Supplied

A local primary school librarian cycled an ultramarathon distance delivering books to pupils to encourage holiday reading.

International reading outreach programme Books on Bikes was trialled this year at Malfroy School to ensure pupils started reading before the new school year began.

Malfroy School library manager Shirley Lane heard about the programme late last year and decided it would be a good initiative to start at the school.

"Last year Malfroy School started a holiday reading programme which involved pupils selecting their own material from the library collection and taking it home in supplied holiday reading bags for the three middle terms.

"Our lead reading teachers selected pupils of all ages who they felt could benefit by reading during the school holiday breaks."

Ms Lane said the initial reading programme was successful and she wanted to find a way to extend it to the summer break.

"The Christmas holidays are different because the library collection needs to do a stocktake so this is not a good time for library books to go home.

"Between the withdrawn library books and our excess Duffy books I created a large collection of high interest books to support pupils over the long Christmas break."

Ms Lane said she selected books appropriate to the interest and reading levels of the holiday reading group and set out delivering them.

"Addresses were obtained and my plan of action started to come to fruition.

"Our pupils come from a wide catchment area so I covered around 100km in the week of January 12.

"Pupils were so pleased to see a familiar face but were also grateful for the Duffy book they were given and excited to know they did not have to give it back."

Ms Lane said she hoped to continue the programme and see it grow.

"To grow the programme I would like to see at least double the amount of pupils receiving a visit and a book. We have three other cycling staff members so I hope to rope them in too."