New Zealand, Let's Read!
Our mission
borrow box project is commited to building a network of reader leaders to tackle declining youth literacy
what's borrow box about?
The Borrow Box Project primarily is about bringing great kids books to the heart of every neighbourhood in New Zealand. What better way to enjoy a lovely Saturday morning walk around the block than to stop at the local Borrow Box and choose a few books? Alas, with urban sprawl and busy lifestyles, the 'local' library doesn't seem so local these days. Finding the time to take kids away from their devices and make a special trip across town to the nearest library can be too difficult for many families.
The Borrow Box Project aims to fix that! We want to bring books closer to where the kids are so that they can borrow and read books written for them, when they want, for as long as they want. No cards and no late fees, just great reads. But you might be wondering why the Borrow Box Project NZ would bother doing this. We'll tell you the serious reason that motivitated us to to build kids libraries.
Why borrow boxes matter
The importance of reading and literacy in the future outcomes of kids cannot be overstated. The Ministry of Education's report "Education Counts" (2012) and The NZ Treasury "Skills Matter" report (2018) shows that kids with good literacy are more likely to pursue higher education and have higher adult earnings. These findings are corroborated OECD PIAAC county report for NZ published in 2023 that found that young adults -16 to 24- with low literacy skills are significantly less likely to be employed full-time and have lower median incomes. Further to this, the Pūtoi Rito report highlights that declining youth literacy poses an economic risk to future employability and productivity in Aotearoa. Scary stuff but the solution is surprisingly simple if it's done when kids are young.
the science of reading
Not a lot of people know this, but reading is not a skill that kids learn naturally like speaking. Most healthy kids will be on the way to naturally picking up verbal speaking skills from their parents and family by the age of two. We are wired to learn speech like a foal stands and walks shortly after its born. Reading, on the other hand is learned and practised skill like riding a bike. Learning to read involves memorising letter combinations and the sounds associated with them and takes a lot of practice. The great thing about learning to read or ride a bike is that it's fun to do and both activities take you away to new places.
the link between reading, learning and adult success
Over the years, we here at the Borrow Box Project have encountered this strange idea that kids who can read early are smarter or more clever than others. That simply is not the case and in fact its the other way around. Kids become smart and clever because they've been taught to read young. It's not that kids who learn to read before age 5 are inherently more intelligent, but that strong early literacy skills often predict better academic results later on. Research suggests that early exposure to reading, particularly through shared reading with parents, helps to build a strong foundation for learning. Early advantages often lead to a snowball effect of cumulative benefits. Kids who start with solid literacy skills are more confident, which encourages them to engage more with learning and further accelerate their progress.
the surprisingly simple answer
Before everyone panics about all this serious stuff, I've got some great news to calm you down. The answer is time tested, simple and low tech. You don't need an app or a tutor and you can start today. The best way to learn and practice reading is by doing it! If you are a parent reading this, you're already capable of being a reading teacher. Giving the gift of literacy to your kids may be one of the greatest gifts you will ever give. Be patient and enjoy the ride because literacy is a journey more than a destination.
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