Rugby league players and fans give reading a try
Bolton and Wigan Libraries are working together to get local rugby league players and their fans to have a go at the Six Book Challenge using our specially branded Rugby League World Cup 2013 materials. Both library authorities are taking part in the Try Reading project which is running a series of events across the North West and Yorkshire linked to RLWC2013.
A visit to Leigh Sports Village in May saw sign-up from several members of Leigh Centurions RLFC - among them players Ryan Brierley and Simon Finnigan pictured here with a Six Book Challenge reading diary and Tom Palmer's book about the RLWC2013 mascot Grubber, What's a Bear to Wear? (Photographs by Julie Lomax)
Julie Spencer, Head of Library and Museum Services for Bolton Council and Pete Gascoigne, Executive Director for Culture at WLCT joined Trevor Barton, Chairman of Leigh Centurions Community Foundation (centre of picture) to seal the partnership.
Bolton Libraries also arranged a visit to Westhoughton High School in Bolton by John Duffy, Simon Finnigan and Rob Parker from Leigh Centurions RLFC to spur on pupils at the school to join the RLWC2013 Six Book Challenge.
Councillor Christopher Peacock, Bolton Council's Cabinet Member for Sports, Youth and Culture (pictured here on the left with Simon Finnigan and pupils Lewis and Katie) said: "This is a fantastic way of encouraging people of all ages to take an interest in reading and also raises the profile of the biggest sporting tournament of the year. The players from Leigh Centurions have agreed to take up the Six Book Challenge along with the pupils and I'm sure rugby league will gain a few new followers as a result."
Get involved
Other libraries have been partnering with local sports teams to promote the Six Book Challenge: the Wigan Warriors first team have all signed up to take the challenge and students in Doncaster were entered into a prize draw to see a Doncaster Rovers match reaching half way through the Challenge.
If you would like to take part in the Six Book Challenge contact your local public library.
If you work in a library, school, college or work place which is thinking of running the Six Book Challenge in 2013 please consider adding a rugby league element by using our special Rugby League World Cup branded materials.
