Story Island Exhibition to Launch at Castlemaine Library

Castlemaine Library is soon to host Story Island: an adventure in pictures, a beautiful exhibition and reading experience for young children designed to promote early literacy skills and the joy of children and parents reading together.

Story Island draws from the world-renowned Scholastic Dromkeen Children’s Literature Collection held at State Library Victoria, and brings together works from some of Australia’s favourite children’s book authors and illustrators to create a visually striking and interactive exhibition.

The exhibition features custom-made pods which evoke stories of the bush, the city, bath and bed time and offer children a space for reading, imaginative sharing, learning and exploring stories and pictures together with their parents or carers.  

“This special exhibition fosters a love of books and reading, and suggests ways for parents and carers to support and develop a child’s literacy from infancy which is so important. It is also a lovely experience for children and parents alike,” said Jess Saunders, Library Programs Officer at Castlemaine Library.

Throughout the exhibition, questions and activities are suggested to encourage discovery and exploration with friends and family. The exhibition is also accompanied by a children’s exhibition booklet and activities for children and carers to do together.

Castlemaine Library has invited school, kindergarten and childcare groups from around the Shire to participate in sessions based around the Story Island exhibition during its time here. This program has been kindly supported by Friends of Castlemaine Library (FOCAL), who has provided funding for buses for the outlying schools to be able to attend.

Story Island: an adventure in pictures opens at Castlemaine Library on Friday 1 September, with an official launch on Tuesday 5 September at 5pm. The Library extends an open invitation to anyone interested in coming along.

Castlemaine Library is one of twelve regional libraries and galleries across Victoria who will host the touring exhibition until January 2018. This free exhibition will held at Castlemaine Library from Friday 1 September – Saturday 14 October, 2017.

The exhibition is a joint initiative of State Library Victoria and Public Libraries Victoria Network.

For further information about the exhibition visit www.slv.vic.gov.au/story-island

For more information on Goldfields Libraries visit www.ncgrl.vic.gov.au