The Bermuda National Library is looking to increase literacy with a new series highlighting prominent locals and children in a poster series.

Community and Cultural Affairs minister Terry Lister recently unveiled 16 new posters modelled on the American Library Association's READ posters featuring actors, writers, and musicians and what they read.

The poster series features opera singer Marcelle Clamens, businessman Eddy DeMello, professional fund raiser Chris Wineinger, retired teacher Edna Mae Scott, and former cultural affairs officer Ruth Thomas.

The posters -- produced entirely by Information Services -- also feature 18 school children and all posters have subjects reading various local books.

Mr. Lister said: "The aim of our new READ posters is to encourage those Bermudians who haven't picked up a book in a while to take the time to do so.'' He said the National Library and it's divisions, the children's and mobile libraries, have a wide array of titles for everyone.

"I encourage parents to get their children hooked on books,'' Mr. Lister said. "Encourage your children to read by letting them see you read. Reading is fun and exciting and can give us lifelong pleasure.'' And he emphasised the role of reading particularly in the computer age, saying: "We cannot survive without reading skills because we have to be able to read those computer manuals and we have to read what's on the computer.'' Mr. Lister, whose responsibilities include both the Library and Information Services, did promise that the new government would increase the Library system's book budget.

"When I sat down and looked at what was spent on books at the last four years I was shocked,'' Mr. Lister said. "We are committed to spending a reasonable amount on books to keep the library up to date.'' Mr. Lister added: "We want the public to take advantage of the library and use it. The children's library is a very busy place. And the facilities here are really great.'' Acting head librarian Joanne Brangman said the idea for the posters came up many years ago but head librarian Grace Rawlins, before accepting an acting post with the ministry had pushed the project.

"We wanted a nice cross section of the community that everyone could relate to,'' she said. "Yes we would love to have another one, it all depends on financing. This was funded by the Friends of the Library.'' Ms Brangman added: "We are hoping to provide them for sale and to put them up in other buildings. Any funds raised will go to the charity, the Friends which will then spend the money on the Library.''