We're delighted to announce that 23,500 people have registered for the Six Book Challenge this year. That's 1,000 more than anticipated, with figures set to rise further as public libraries, colleges, workplaces, prisons and other settings around the UK conclude and evaluate their Challenge activity for 2012.

Of the record-breaking 23,500 people who signed up for the scheme 12,000 came through public libraries, 6,000 through further education and sixth form colleges, 4,000 through prisons and 1,500 through workplaces. Ninety per cent of survey respondents said that they were more confident about reading after taking part in the Six Book Challenge this year.

"It's fabulous that the Challenge has increased in scale by another 30% this year," comments Genevieve Clarke, Six Book Challenge programme manager for The Reading Agency, "but there's a long way to go. It's such a simple scheme and yet its impact is enormous. Everyone should be doing it! So please get in touch with us if you'd like to support the Challenge in any way."

The rest of 2012 also looks set to make a bumper year for the Challenge. We'll be launching new materials in September featuring our new ambassador Andy McNab and in November a special event will mark the Six Book Challenge's fifth birthday, celebrating its achievements to date and sharing the good practice of top-performing organisations.