General News
29 August, 2022
Library a space for residents of all ages
The Maryborough Regional Library welcomed a very special visitor recently, with little Evie Rodgers becoming the library’s youngest member at the age of just four days. Born into a family of avid readers and bookworms on Monday, August 15, it was...
The Maryborough Regional Library welcomed a very special visitor recently, with little Evie Rodgers becoming the library’s youngest member at the age of just four days.
Born into a family of avid readers and bookworms on Monday, August 15, it was unsurprising that four days after she was born, Evie had her first visit to the local library and was signed up as a member.
Evie’s parents, Jade and Garry, both visit the library every week and said there was never a doubt Evie would become a member, just like her two older brothers Samuel and James.
“Considering the library staff know Garry and I fairly well, I don’t think they were very surprised when we brought Evie in to sign her up,” Jade said.
“We consider literacy really important, it helps with speech development and creativity and we’re both avid bookworms which is a big part of it too.
“Reading at a young age can give you a head start in life and it’s a real passion of ours — we try and read to our kids every day.”
The family visit the library to drop off or pick up new books and resources several times a week and Garry said reading is good for both relaxation and growth.
“Reading is a good way to relax, de-stress and escape the world for five minutes,” he said.
“It also opens doorways and you can learn a lot from what you’re reading which is important.”
Jade described the library as one of the most important assets in the community and something everyone should make use of.
“I think the library is one of the most important things you can have in the community, especially with it being a way to get help and support for different people,” she said.
“I think everyone should join the library, I think it’s underused and if more people came in, they’d see there’s a benefit to being involved.”
Maryborough Regional Library team leader Bec Clark said she wasn’t surprised when Evie was brought in and signed up.
“It wasn’t a surprise at all, we knew they’d be in nice and early to sign Evie up and we encouraged that,” she said.
“The Rodgers family are regulars so we weren’t surprised at all when Evie signed up, the boys probably weren’t a great deal older when they became members as well.
“You’re never too young to be a library member.”
Before Evie became a library member, the youngest member joined at the age of 10 days back in 2018.
Ms Clark said there’s something for everyone at the library, including programs targeted to newborns.
“There is something for all ages at the library, for newborns they can come along to laptime on a Monday, rhyme time on a Thursday and access a heap of books specifically for babies,” she said.
“We also have the 1000 books program which is where we encourage parents to read 1000 books to their kids before they reach school and it’s an incentive program that’s free to sign up to.
“You’re never too young or too old to be a library member, there’s something for everyone here.
“Becoming a member is about a two minute process and all we need is some ID if you’re an adult, or a parent’s ID if you’re underage.”
