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March News from The Reading Agency
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The future of libraries
It's a strange time as we wait for news of councils' decisions about local library services. We are particularly concerned about communities losing the expert staff who support reading. We are doing all we can, and are delighted that the Publishers' Association has invited us to speak to the All Party Parliamentary Group on publishing on 2 March. We are urging MPs who haven't already done so to talk to councils about their responsibilities under the 1964 Public Libraries and Museums Act. This act requires local authorities to provide a "comprehensive and efficient" library service.
Over and over, readers and library colleagues are urging us to help the sector keep developing and innovating in these tough times. Much of the material in this newsletter focuses on this. |
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Libraries can improve health and well-being
NEWS: We are excited about a new health and social care offer we have developed with the West Midlands branch of the Society of Chief Librarians. It demonstrates the critical role libraries play in improving people's health and well-being, through providing open access to health information and through social activities like reading groups, all supported by trained staff. As public health services move into the control of local authorities this is a pioneering demonstration of how libraries' work is hugely relevant to the new public services landscape. Read more about the offer and partnership toolkit and talk to debbie.hicks@readingagency.org.uk
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Promoting Reading
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Reading Groups for Everyone
NEWS: We are launching our Reading Groups for Everyone website on 15 March. This is the first step in a new campaign to connect readers up and create lots of different kinds of reading groups. We have been working with the Society of Chief Librarians and trailblazing library authorities to get the demonstration site ready. We will be calling for all libraries, other organisations and individuals to add their reading groups to the website. Read more about Reading Groups for Everyone.
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SKYPE AUTHOR VISIT:Our first Reading Groups for Everyone event is a Skype author chat with TV Book Club's Best Read My Last Duchess author Daisy Goodwin. All you need for Daisy to chat to your reading group on Wednesday 16 March is a computer and internet connection and an author visit is a click away. To take part email sandeep.mahal@readingagency.org.uk. We have already been working with Headline to offer copies of My Last Duchess to reading groups. |
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World Book Day
TWITTER DISCUSSION: Michelle Treagust, @mushychelle, who works on our adult literacy projects, is hosting a #ukedchat on reading on World Book Day, 3 March, between 8pm and 9pm. Read more, vote on the discussion topic and join in on Twitter.
QUICK READS: Alongside the regular promotion of World Book Day, ten new Quick Reads for emergent readers will be published on 3 March. We've worked with the library sector to secure sign-up from 95% of library authorities and created free reading and writing resources to support the new books. |
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World Book Night
LOOK OUT FOR: On 4 March, the day before World Book Night there will be a thrilling showcase event in Trafalgar Square with a great line-up of authors, actors and musicians. On the night itself 20,000 book givers will give away one million books to people in their communities. We have been co-ordinating libraries' involvement and are inspired by their imaginative response and great events. Ideas and resources to help libraries get involved are on our website. Read more about World Book Night.
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Reaching more readers through digital marketing
ACTION PLAN: We are running a digital marketing event in March. This will explore how the powerful partnership between libraries and publishers to can be developed digitally to reach more readers. There will be presentations from industry leaders and active brainstorming sessions involving digital marketeers and reading promoters from libraries and publishing, plus colleagues who are interested in working with us to reach readers such as Apple, Sony and Waterstone's. The event will generate an action plan for a new, shared digital strategy. We will publish progress on our website. We are very grateful to OverDrive and Public Library Online who are sponsoring the event.
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Inspiring adult readers
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Exeter Roadshow
SHARING EXPERTISE: In February we ran a roadshow in Exeter Central Library - with partners Cyprus Well - for librarians in the south west. Publishers and authors came to network and exchange ideas with library staff. It was particularly appreciated at a time when market conditions limit such opportunities. Vicki Goldie from Bournemouth libraries said: "It gave me a valuable insight into the background of publishing and gave us in libraries a voice." The next roadshow is on 5 May at Brighton Jubilee Library.
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Adult literacy
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Funding for digital learning
NEWS: We are pleased to report that the Department of Business Innovation and Skills are giving us a grant, through partners NIACE. This will develop our work on using online gaming to help adults tackle low literacy skills, building on the Reading for Gaming report we published in 2010.
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Six Book Challenge 2011
NEW PRIZE: If you are a college taking part in the Six Book Challenge 2011, look out for our new prize draw. With COFHE, the network for libraries in post-16 education, we are offering colleges with more than 20 students taking part in the Challenge and using their college library, the chance to win a visit from a top author. See Six Book Challenge.
RECORD BREAKING NUMBERS: Six Book Challenge participants at Northampton College where Librarian Lynn Goodman has signed up over 200 students. Read more. |
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ORDER NOW WITH DISCOUNTS: Don't miss out on Six Book Challenge discounts and special offers. See the Shop.
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Engaging young people with reading and libraries
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Summer Reading Challenge volunteering
FUNDING: Thanks to continued support from John Laing Integrated Services we will be working with 50 library authorities to increase the number of libraries involving young people as volunteers supporting children doing the Summer Reading Challenge.
"I really enjoyed working with the children and talking to then about the books they've read, it was great to see them really enjoy reading! I got something to add to my CV and it's added to my experiences of working with young children." Lisa Hardy who volunteered with the Challenge last year at Warrington Central Library. |
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ORDER NOW: Your last chance to get your order form in for the Summer Reading Challenge 2011 materials when books will take centre stage in this year's Circus Stars theme. Deadline for order forms 4 March. |
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MyVoice
FUNDING: Our new MyVoice programme to support libraries' innovative work to involve young people in running creative reading initiatives has been awarded a grant from the Dulverton Trust. Thank you!
THE TEAM: From a very strong field of applicants we have appointed Sarah Marsh and Laurie Jarmain to help us run our MyVoice programme. |
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Encouraging more children to read more
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Children's Reading Partners at the London Book Fair
ROADSHOW: We are running another roadshow at the London Book Fair for children's librarians and publishers - this one on New Writers, New Writing. Children's Reading Partners brings librarians and publishers together to share ideas and spread reading opportunities to more children. Join us on Tuesday 12 April, 2.30 to 4pm to hear publisher presentations on the latest children's titles, plus displays, giveaways and networking. Contact Juliana.oliver@readingagency.org.uk before 30 March to book.
Register for the London Book Fair before 11 April and get into the whole Book Fair and its events for the discounted rate of £10. |
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Look out for...
NEW SPOTLIGHT TITLES: From May and August announced. Posters and activity sheets available from the website now.
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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 .We would like to thank all the people who are supporting our work and helping us to open up the transformative world of reading to more people, including the Museums and Libraries Archives Council and the Arts Council. To unsubscribe click here or send an email to reading.agency@readingagency.org.uk
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read - The Reading Agency Ltd
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