First Nations Program Profile of the Month- First Nation Communities READS

First Nations Communities READ is an annual reading program that was launched in 2003 by the First Nations public library community in Ontario.

What does First Nations Communities READ do?:

• encourages family literacy, intergenerational storytelling, and intergenerational information sharing
• are written and/or illustrated by, or otherwise involve the participation of a First Nations, Metis or Inuit creator;
• contain First Nation, Metis, or Inuit content produced with the support of First Nation, Metis, or Inuit advisers/consultants or First Nation, Metis or Inuit endorsement.

What are the program's goals?

Through title selections, other recommendations, and creators tours in First Nation communities, First Nation Communities READ:

• encourages family literacy, intergenerational storytelling, and intergenerational information sharing;
• increases awareness of the relevance and importance of First Nations, Metis and Inuit writing, illustration and publishing
• promotes the publication, sharing, and understanding of First Nation, Metis, and Inuit voices and experiences;
• increases awareness and sales of the titles it honours 

Who's involved in the program?

First Nation Communities READ relies on:

• annual funding from the Government of Canada
• coordination support from Southern Ontario Library Service
• responsiveness of publishers to the annual call for title nominations
• a volunteer jury of First Nation libraries
• a volunteer jury of First Nation librarians
• in kind support from organizations, including the Ontario Library Association, Goodminds.com, and Quill & Quire;
• the participation of public libraries and broader public

What is the annual funding used for?

First Nation Communities READ funding supports:

• the purchase and distribution of copies of the selected title to First Nation public libraries in Ontario;
• the design, printing, and distribution, to all public libraries in Ontario, of a poster promoting the selected titled and other worthy nominations
• the printing of First Nations Communities READ book stickers;
• readings, book giveaways, and signings at conferences and events

How does the annual call for nominations work?

• First Nations Communities READ publishes and sends out an annual call to publishers for title nominations.

For more information regarding this amazing program please contact the First Nations Community READS interim Coordinator and Director of Operations at Southern Ontario Library Service, (SOLS) or visit their website at www.sols.org