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December News from The Reading Agency
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Young people's voices for libraries and volunteering
RESULTS: New results published in our report on the Summer Reading Challenge volunteering scheme show how library and reading-based volunteering has massive potential as a springboard for involving young people in the community. And that it can help improve the skills, confidence and job opportunities of the next generation.
Our scheme got 634 young volunteers helping libraries inspire children to do the Challenge - against our target of 250. We worked in partnership with 20 local authorities, the John Laing Integrated Services and the volunteering charity, v. 99.2% of volunteers said they gained new skills and experience. Several young people went on to secure employment and 74.8% said they would like to continue volunteering in libraries. 99.5% said libraries are a good place to volunteer and many young volunteers felt strongly about the importance of libraries continuing to be well funded. |
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"It's great that young people can be given these opportunities, because there aren't many jobs out there for young people at the moment." Samia Meziane, 16, Summer Reading Challenge Volunteer in Hounslow Libraries
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"A shocking fifth of eighteen year olds are currently not in education, employment or training. This makes the resource of the library more important than ever. Young people's voices must be heard in the crucial debate about libraries' future," said Miranda McKearney, director of The Reading Agency. "In our work we're hearing that young people have a real hunger for libraries' support, and a massive appetite for volunteering."
NEW CAMPAIGN: As part of our drive to involve young people in libraries we are supporting a Big Secret campaign, set up by a group of teenagers in Warrington. This promotes libraries to young people, encourages them to get more involved and campaign for libraries. We kicked off with a library sleepover and gig in Lancaster Library (pictured). To find out more contact Anna Selby, join our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter. |
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Akala in the British Library
INSPIRING LIBRARY TOUR: Hip hop star Akala performing at the British Library's Evolving English exhibition in the finale of the national tour of libraries he did for us to reach out to new young people in the community. Read more in the press release and a podcast of the event will be available from British Library website shortly.
Photo Paul Hampartsoumian
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Work with Children
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Summer Reading Challenge
BIGGEST CHALLENGE YET: It's really important in all the worrying cuts that the good news about what libraries offer isn't lost. Local politicians making decisions about library funding need to understand the power of libraries' work in the community. We hope the results of this year's Summer Reading Challenge will be used to get the message across. Libraries reached more children than ever before, around 760,000 participants - the biggest challenge to date!
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LIBRARIES AND SCHOOLS: Talis have been supporting the Summer Reading Challenge. They have now published podcasts of librarians and teachers talking about how schools and libraries can work together on the Challenge. The interviewees give practical tips and discuss the improvement in children's reading if they do the Challenge. The podcasts can be used to share information and demonstrate the powerful exciting impact that the Challenge can have. <
NEW LOGO: We can now show you the new logo for next year's theme - Circus Stars. Keep an eye on www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk for future developments. |
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We announce new partnership with Waterstone's
NEWS: From 1 December, we are forming a partnership with Waterstone's, the UK's leading bookseller. We'll be working together to bring new reading opportunities to communities by building links between libraries and bookshops. The initial focus of the partnership will be on shared author and family reading events. "This will be a great way of building new writers, and celebrating the many highlights in the literary calendar," said Dominic Myers, Waterstone's managing director. "With so much pressure on libraries at the moment, it's great to see a new partner step into the ring," said Miranda McKearney, "We want to make sure that writers and readers in every kind of community get the chance to connect with each other and this will really help." Read full press release.
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Work with adult literacy
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Six Book Challenge 2011
SIGN UP NOW: Our main adult literacy scheme, the Six Book Challenge, is growing fast. Lots of new libraries, colleges, prisons and workplaces have already signed up to run the 2011 Challenge. The key to its success is partnership working, often with public or college libraries in a support role. "Working with the Library Service has proved to be an excellent partnership and both parties have learnt from one another," reports Marion Pymar, Service Manager for Dorset Adult Learning. We are thrilled to have a donation from Talis to support the Six Book Challenge, in particular to work in prisons. See Six Book Challenge for more news and the Shop to order materials.
"The Six Book Challenge is one of the most important, moving and inspiring initiatives I have come across" says Carol Bannerman, Principal of Bolton College (centre front). |
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Reading groups for adult literacy
FREE RESOURCES: Join our free network of reading groups for emergent adult readers! This month, on the Chatabout network members have been discussing using Quick Reads and the Quick Reads Guides with. Since Quick Reads was launched in 2006, libraries have issued over 2 million copies. Over the next few months the Chatabout team will be working closely with publishers to offer free, new materials to reading groups.
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Work with writers, reading groups and publishers
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FREE BOOKS FOR READING GROUPS: Reading Partners is our scheme that is revolutionising the way publishers and libraries work together to connect writers to readers.
To celebrate the TV adaption of Any Human Heart by William Boyd, Penguin has offered libraries free A3 posters, free reading group sets of Any Human Heart, and one set of ALL William Boyd's titles. 500 libraries are taking part in the promotion, 10 thrilled reading groups received a set of Any Human Heart and Wheatsheaf library in Rochdale was awarded a set of the entire backlist. Any Human Heart is broadcast on Channel 4 at 9pm from 21 November. |
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ARABIC AND SOMALI BOOKS SHOWCASED: In an event we organised, Zaylai Books showcased its catalogue of Arabic and Somali books for librarians at Mayfair Library, central London. Zaylai Books supplies UK libraries and schools with specialist books from Arabic, Somali and other cultural backgrounds. Librarians met with, and listened to readings by, headline authors from the Zaylai list. Abdulahi Hassan, managing director Zaylai Books is pictured. Read full press release. |
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Bringing children's publishers and libraries together
ROADSHOW: Fifty-five librarians, children's publishers and authors gathered at Manchester's newly refurbished Longsight Library for the Children's Reading Partners Autumn Roadshow - an event sponsored by Bertrams. The Roadshow included presentations from publishers and 'speed-meeting' between librarians, publishers and authors - this time including Bertrams too. We loved the line-up of authors - Julie Bertagna, Mark Brake, John Chase, Ruth Eastham, S L Powell, Justin Somper, Ali Sparkes, Jonathan Stroud and Holly Webb.
Children's Reading Partners runs regular roadshows, which bring publishers, librarians and writers together. Read more about Children's Reading Partners or contact Tricia Kings for more information. |
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Spotlight
BEST NEW READS: The poster and booklists for the December Spotlight titles are now up on our website. Spotlight is a Children's Reading Partners promotion where librarians and publishers help families choose great new reads for their children by highlighting each month some of the best new titles.
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Thank you
A heartfelt thanks to the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, the Arts Council England and all our funders for their valuable support throughout the year - we are very grateful for all that you have enabled us to achieve...
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Look out for...
…the big World Book Night announcement on 2 December, when the 25 titles will be announced and the website - www.worldbooknight.org - will go live too.
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Keeping in touch
For information about all our projects and resources visit the website, follow us on Twitter and tell use what you think at the discussion forum. To unsubscribe click here or send an email to reading.agency@readingagency.org.uk
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