AN Oldham Librarian has been allocated £8,500 of a £65,000 pay-out from the Carnegie UK Trust to fund innovative projects.

Thanks to the funding, library development officer at Oldham Libraries, Kate Smyth, has been selected to participate in the prestigious ‘Carnegie Library Lab’ programme.

She is only one of six library staff to be selected for the programme from UK-wide competition.

Kate will use the money deliver the ‘Count and Code’ project which will encourage children between the ages of three and six to explore, investigate and learn through counting and coding activities.

Alongside the project funding, Kate will also have exclusive access to online learning, networking and mentoring opportunities.

She said: “I am thrilled to be chosen as a Library Lab partner and it’s great to know that Carnegie have confidence in my ability to develop and deliver a project from scratch.

“I love working with the community and look forward to ensuring libraries have a key role in increasing school readiness and engaging parents at Count and Code sessions.

“The opportunity to be a Library Lab partner will help me grow professionally and personally and I’m sure the experience will be challenging, exciting and rewarding.”

Martyn Evans, chief executive of Carnegie UK Trust, said: “The calibre of the applications we received for our Library Lab initiative was extremely high, making it very difficult to choose just six projects to support.

“We were delighted to select Kate as one of our winners and we are very much looking forward to working with her.

“Libraries are at the heart of our communities and are vital sources for learning and information. It’s so important to make sure we are investing in projects, and in library staff, supporting innovation and leadership to help build a positive future for our public libraries.”

Cllr Barbara Brownridge, cabinet member neighbourhoods and co-operatives, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded with funding from the Carnegie Library Lab to run Count and Code numeracy sessions in libraries across Oldham.

“We are always striving to ensure Oldham’s children are school ready by the age of five and this funding will help to achieve this. These innovative and creative sessions will combine traditional rhymes, number play and counting with toys that allow children as young as three to take their first steps into coding.”