Summer Reading Challenge Story Lab 2012 results
"Story Lab was great. Rebecca has a tough time with reading and this really pushed her on. My children would not have read a single word over the summer if it wasn't for Story Lab. Thank you!"
"This is my first time I've done this challenge. I used to hate books but now I love them. Story Lab has encouraged me to read, THANK YOU!"
We are pleased that even in these challenging times 750,000 children took part in Story Lab. 427,500 children completed the Summer Reading Challenge too, earning medals for reading six books.
Key 2012 achievements
- 98% of UK libraries ran the Story Lab Summer Reading Challenge
- 322,500 or 43% of participants were boys
- Children doing the Challenge read more than 3 million books over the summer holidays
- 48,000 children created profiles on the website, logging 100,000 books on the Booksorter
- 349,400 children attended 13,700 Story Lab events organised by libraries
- The Summer Reading Challenge was part of the Olympics ' London 2012 Festival, highlighting libraries' vital cultural and educational role
Read the full report. and see the regional breakdown of results.
Volunteering with the Summer Reading Challenge
"It's been a truly fantastic opportunity. I've had the chance to work closely with children - something I've never really done before, at any level. There's something great about seeing their eyes light up when you've read and enjoyed a book that they love too. You just don't get to have that kind of interaction anywhere else. Rest assured, I'll be back next year!"
The number of volunteers helping with the Summer Reading Challenge increased dramatically this year, with 5761 volunteers helping in 137 library authorities.
Key 2012 achievements
- 5761 volunteers helped in 68% of library authorities. Of these, 4382 were young people aged 11-24 - a 49% increase on the number involved in 2011
- 97% of the young people involved in volunteering gained new skills and experience
We asked some volunteers in Westminster about their 2012 Summer Reading Challenge volunteering experience and this is what they said:
Get involved
Librarians can now order resources for running the Summer Reading Challenge 2013 Creepy House.
