Public Libraries join forces with Duffy Books in Homes

Public Libraries of New Zealand have joined forces with Duffy Books in Homes to offer Duffy kids all around New Zealand a free book reward when they use their Public Library.

Duffy Books in Homes is a charitable trust which has, for over fifteen years, been providing free books three times a year, to over 95,000 New Zealand children in lower-decile schools. Their vision is to break the cycle of booklessness in New Zealand by inspiring a love of books in Duffy children so they become adults who inspire a love of reading in others.

As part of the Duffy Books in Homes programme the Duffy Theatre visits over 500 schools each year, bringing a vibrant and engaging performance to tens of thousands of children. This year’s theatre production is a fun interactive play entitled ‘Duffy’s Book Bus Adventure’ in which Duffy and the school children save their local mobile library from closure by passionately extolling the virtues of books and libraries.  The play sends a very clear message – libraries are valuable, welcoming and fun!

This play will be the vehicle to drive the Duffy Books in Homes public library reward card scheme. All children at participating Duffy schools will receive a library reward card – each time they visit their public library they will receive a stamp – after five visits they will receive their free book prize.

As part of their research, the hard working Duffy Theatre crew visited libraries and children’s librarians to find out what made them special to children and how public libraries could encourage Duffy children to extend their love of books and reading outside of the classroom and at home.

Public Libraries of New Zealand are proud to be associated with Duffy Books in Homes, and to work together with them to encourage Duffy children to develop a lasting relationship with reading and a sense of belonging in libraries that they can carry beyond school and into their adult lives.