Conferences
It's good to talk. It allows us to discuss new ideas and thinking and share information about the latest practices in reading. We organise several discussions and conferences each year, sometimes on our own but more frequently in partnership with other organisations.
We then publish conference presentations and reports on this website.
Coming up...
Just gone....
A while ago...
Coming up...
New thinking seminars
Following on from our popular and successful joint Creative Partnerships seminars on the Future of Reading held in autumn of 2007, we will be exploring the creative relationship between reading, gaming, narrative and storytelling.
From gaming to health!
One for your diaries as in the late autumn we will be holding a 'Reading and health' event to explore new thinking on how reading can support health and well being.
Booking details and confirmed dates and venues to follow so check back soon.
Just gone...
The Summer Reading Challenge Conference
Friday 13 November 2009
The conference looked at the future strategic significance of the scheme in a local authority context. It explored how the Summer Reading Challenge can deliver against key outcomes for children and demonstrate that children's learning can be enhanced through this highly effective and enjoyable reading offer.
Conference speakers included Estelle Morris, Ed Vaizey - shadow minister for Culture and the Creative Industries, former children's laureate Michael Rosen, Paul Collard - chief executive at Creativity, Culture and Education (CCE), and John Harris - director of children's services in Hertfordshire and Alan Yentob, creative director of the BBC, chairman of the governing council for the Institute of Contemporary Arts, and board member of the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and the charity Kids' Company.
A team from UKLA (United Kingdom Literacy Association) shared the results of the impact research that has been carried out looking at the difference teachers believe that the Summer Reading Challenge makes to children's reading. This research has been carried out in schools, with teachers working closely with local library staff, and it is based on teachers giving their own perspective and assessment of children in their classes - using the Assessing Pupil Progression framework - currently being rolled out in schools.
With tough budgetary times ahead, shared national schemes such as the Summer Reading Challenge, help to achieve efficiencies through economies of scale, share best practice and make a real impact on children and families.
Do games tell a story? Why Gaming is the new reading funded by Creative Partnerships and in partnership with Channel 4
2 December 2008
6pm, Channel 4, Horseferry Road, London
The Vital Link libraries and adult literacy conference for the National Year of Reading
A passion for reading: where does it fit into Skills for Life?
12 March 2008
Publication available from our Shop.
Aiming High: the library offer to young people
29 January 2008
Programme details
Publication available from our Shop.
A while ago...
Community engagement through reading
30 November 2007
A conference run in partnership with the Local Government Association
Publication available from our Shop.
Reaching New Markets
22 November 2007
A seminar run in partnership with the Bookseller on developing a black and minority ethnic strategy. Download the print advert for the seminar.
Follow the links to read the post-conference press release
National Year of Reading conference
October 2007
The National Year of Reading conference brought together people to discuss all the exciting possibilities offered by the National Year of Reading and to begin to plan how we are going make some of them happen. You can read more and download the interactive report from the National Year of Reading website hosted by the National Literacy Trust.
PLA Conference 2007
October 2007
At the Public Libraries Authorities' conference our Director, Miranda McKearney, highlighted the opportunities for libraries to get involved in the National Year of Reading 2008. Joanna Prior, Penguin's Publicity and Marketing Director spoke about how publishers were supporting the National Year of Reading.
Miranda McKearney's presentation and speech (see presentation notes to read the speech)
The writer/reader mash up
September 2007
The relationship between readers and writers is changing, with a blurring of the boundaries between the consumption and creation of text. Young people are finding new ways both to tell their own stories and relate to writers. The digital revolution is creating different kinds of reading and writing communities. How are we responding to this new dynamic? We examined all of these questions at the writer/reader mash up seminar.
The reading revolution: how reading is changing and what that means
July 2007
The seminar proposition was that with the imminent arrival of the Sony e-reader and with the digital revolution well on its way, what is the future of the book and our current definitions of reading? How are young people accessing text and what are they reading?
Follow the link to download the podcast
Fulfilling their Potential conference 2007
Public Libraries and the Youth Offer
At the Fulfilling their Potential conference in 2007 we looked at the many different ways that young people could get involved with local library services and why libraries were so important to young people. Drawing on real life examples our speakers spoke passionately about putting young people and libraries together.
Libraries and Young People: Where have we got to and where next?
Miranda McKearney, Director, The Reading Agency
Tom Wylie, Chief Executive, The National Youth Agency
Why are public libraries critical to the Youth Offer?
Damian Allen, Executive Director of Children's Services, Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council - the local government view
The Derbyshire Libraries Book Pushers - the young people's view
Involving hard to reach young people: the experience of the Partners for Change project in the south west
Ciara Eastell, The Reading Agency - what has been learned to date?
Involving Looked After young people
Allyson Jordan, Library Services Manager, Swindon Libraries
Josh Chesterman, past Chair of the Swindon Youth Forum
Next steps for youth policy and public libraries
Rt Hon. Beverley Hughes MP, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families
Transforming young people's library experience: lessons from the FtP north west partnership project
Nicky Parker, Head of Library and Information Services, Manchester City Council; Peter Garden, Regional Adviser, MLA North West and Liz Harding, Head of the North West Regional Youth Work Unit
The Chelsea Football Club Experience: developing new readers through partnerships
Suzi Raymond, Chelsea FC Education Department
Jim Sells, National Literary Trust
Creative Reading: The Wow Factor
Anthony McGowan, Author and winner of the 2006 Booktrust Teenage Prize
Creative Partnerships, libraries and creative reading symposium
This symposium looked at the links between creative partnerships, libraries and creative reading. Download the report.