The History of Books for Babes
The Books for Babes project began when in 1997 the Rotary Club of Auckland Inc. approached Auckland Healthcare and Plunket wanting a project where they could "put resources into the local community". After consultation with a number of health professionals; Auckland Healthcare, Plunket and the Rotary Club of Auckland Inc. developed a simple programme which allowed books to be given to children in the Rotary Club of Auckland Inc. geographical area.

Books purchased by the Rotary Club of Auckland Inc. were given to children identified as not having ready access to books in their homes. Health Professionals (Public Health Nurses, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapist and Plunket Nurses) from both Auckland Healthcare and Plunket identified the families and enrolled them in the project.

Initially each child received a total of three books, coinciding at times when Health Professionals were visiting the child at home; six weeks, five months and fifteen months. Many children receive more than those scheduled visits, well child checks were offered to all children at those times and the project aimed to be integrated into the Health professionals work rather than make additional work. Along with the books the Health Professionals also gave the parents suggestions and ideas on reading to very young children.

Soon after the commencement of the project it became apparent that children in other geographical areas had an equally great need for books so the project was extended to include the Glen Innes area within those first few weeks. In 1999 the project was further extended to include the Otahuhu area. There was further extension of area in 2000 and in 2005 the number of books given to children increased to 5 in their first year.

In April 2001 a formal evaluation of the project was completed and increases were found to have occurred in parent-child interactions, adult reading and the number of books that remained in the home.

Further enhancement of the project in 2002 was the addition of Auckland City Libraries representation. This has extended the project to include library visits and facilitating membership for families of their local library and the books and programmes that run.

The Books for Babes Trust was formed in 2003 by the Rotary Club of Auckland Inc. to administer, fund raise and manage the project. Rotary, Plunket and the Auckland District Health Board signed a Memorandum of Understanding to continue to support the project.

The following aims were developed in 1997 when the project commenced and they remain the aims today.

• to stimulate parent child relationship by providing a catalyst, i.e. a reading book
• to give children and their families access to appropriate reading books
• to promote to parents the value of books and reading to their children.