Information and Resources

     The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, partnering with other local policing agencies and libraries, have created an innovative Literacy Initiative, The Adopt a Library Literacy Program.

     Adopt-A-Library works by connecting policing agencies together with libraries, public or school, as well as other locations where children can be reached, such as health clinics and women's shelters. The police act as the "bridge" between the community and the library, and in return, the library develops programs and activities that directly impact literacy amongst children.

     The Program does not coordinate activities, rather it promotes the concept of literacy and crime prevention and helps to communicate ideas and opportunities to members and sponsors. Each of the members are free to develop their own strategy based upon local needs and directions.

     The following is an example of a common strategy used by several police agencies and libraries:

1. Police contact local businesses to explain the need to support literacy as a means of crime prevention.
2. Items are donated to libraries that are in turn used as prizes and incentives to encourage children to visit their local libraries.
3. Cash donations are welcomed and are used for obtaining new books.
4. Donations may also be used for much needed furniture and materials for children's programming activities, such as puppet stages and craft supplies. 
5. In addition, donations have enabled libraries to take a more active role in supporting summer reading programs - a proven component of increased literacy levels. 
6. Children participating in reading and reading programs are counted as well as number of books read as a way of measuring the local impact.

• Learn more about the history of the program
• Ideas that police and libraries can use
• Learn more about literacy and crime prevention
• Powerpoint presentation that you can adapt (please note: this is a very large file, over 4mb in size)
• The Adopt-A-Library logo in TIF format
• The Adopt-A-Library logo in JPG format
• For Nova Scotia members an AAL poster is available. Please email events@parl.ns.ca for further information. View poster.

Copyright 2004 Adopt-A-Library Literacy Program
Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library