Reading out loud can be a daunting task, whether it be an adult or child doing it.
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But a program run at the Raymond Terrace and Tomaree libraries, with help from some adorable therapy pooches, is aiming to change that, starting with our youngest residents.
The BARC (Building Reading Confidence) program sees children in years 1 to 3 read out loud to a Delta Therapy Dog such as Olivia the labradoodle for 10 minutes once a week in a bid to boost their confidence.
"The program is based on the premise by Mem Fox to read out loud for 10 minutes each day," Nada Voorbij, Raymond Terrace Library's circulation coordinator, said.
"We're not teaching the kids to read. This is for kids who needs some assistance with building confidence. The kids enjoy reading to the dogs. The novelty of reading to the dogs inspires confidence and a love of reading."
Ms Voorbij was part of the team that established a BARC program at Lake Macquarie Libraries.
Seeing the value and results from the program during her time in Lake Mac, when Ms Voorbij joined Raymond Terrace Library in 2012, she knew she wanted to start the program in Port Stephens.
With help from Lake Mac Library, the program was founded in the Raymond Terrace and Salamander Bay libraries in 2014.
Delta Therapy Dogs are used for the program which runs during the school term for eight weeks. Four children are selected per term and head in to the libraries to read to a dog for 10 minutes. The children have five additional minutes to greet, pat and feed the dog a treat.
Olivia and her handler Karen Schofield have been part of the BARC program since 2014. The pair are well known around the Bay. Olivia and Ms Schofield also work in the Bill King Aged Care Facility and Harbourside Haven at Shoal Bay.
Olivia and Ms Schofield assist children in Raymond Terrace while Keith Green and his therapy dog Indy are part of the program at Tomaree Library.
At the end of the eight weeks, the children receive a book with an inscription, a book bag donated by Lake Mac Libraries and a certificate with a photo of them with their therapy dog.
"We create a space for the kids that is fun and reading doesn't feel like a chore, and feel special in participating," Ms Voorbij said. "This is a great imitative. It creates that social fabric in the community. We try and provide a lot of diverse and special programs for our community."
In the past, the library has received referrals for program participants from primary schools. It is now opening the program up to the public.
If anyone is interested in enrolling their children into the BARC program, phone the Raymond Terrace or Tomaree library.