CSCS launches book drive to boost student literacy

CALMAR -- A book drive aimed at boosting student literacy has been launched at Calmar Secondary Collegiate School.

Lynnsy Noll -- an English Language Arts teacher at CSCS -- says the initiative seeks donations of new and gently used books to replenish the school's library for the 2026-2027 school year. From June 15th to 24th, the school will be accepting various forms of literacy items, including anything from hard-cover to paperback style books, dictionaries, thesauruses, and other resource texts; novels and graphic novels; comic books and picture books, anthologies, poetry, plays, and nonfiction. Noll says their goal is to stock the library with books that spark students' interest.

"We hope that the book drive will inspire more reluctant readers and support the avid ones, and make our library an even more vibrant space for learning and growth," said Noll. "Literacy rates among teens are declining; the number of students considered functionally illiterate, which is those without the reading and writing skills required for daily life and employment, has doubled in recent years."

Currently, nearly 49 per cent of Canadian adults aged 16 to 65 lack the Level 3 literacy skill needed to navigate day-to-day life, while OECD reports that 19 per cent of that grouping scored at or below Level 1. In addition, nearly 29 per cent of high school students report that they have not read a single book for pleasure. Noll says this lack of engagement directly correlates with a lack of fresh, relatable content on the shelves to compete with digital screens.

"I think boosting literacy rates for students can transform lives and entire communities," said Noll. "When students have strong literacy skills, they're more likely to succeed in school, and therefore access better career opportunities, and enjoy improved long-term health. For rural communities like ours in Calmar, this means breaking the cycle of what could be generational poverty, or fostering greater civic engagement, and building a more vibrant economy."

Research has shown that increasing Canada's average literacy rate by just 1 per cent could generate a massive economic benefit -- roughly $67 billion annually in GDP. Noll adds that even a monetary donation made out to the CSCS Library would go a long way toward purchasing these valuable resources. Monetary donations in lieu of -- or in addition to -- book donations go much further, as they allow the school to purchase the exact copies needed.