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Launch of the 2011 Summer Reading Challenge: Libraries unite to continue to tackle children's literacy
photo by Stonehouse Photographic
In a huge combined effort to encourage every child to enjoy reading, the public library network today launched The Summer Reading Challenge with an event at the House of Commons. Speakers included Nick Gibb, Minister for Schools, and author Michael Rosen. Ruth Mackenzie, Director of the Cultural Olympiad announced that the Challenge will be part of the London 2012 Festival. Guests gathered to show their support for libraries' contribution to literacy included some of the nation's best loved authors along with MPs, councillors, publishing industry figures, librarians and library campaigners.
Created and run by independent charity The Reading Agency with libraries, this year's Summer Reading Challenge has the highest rate of involvement ever. 97% of UK library authorities are participating and over 760,000 children are due to join in.
"It's every child's birthright to benefit from the public library's support for literacy. If you care about libraries, get involved in The Summer Reading Challenge and shout about the success of the new look library reading service and why we should all be fighting to develop it" says Miranda McKearney, Director of The Reading Agency. "Those taking decisions about the future of libraries need to hear the good news stories - it's remarkable that in these tough times, libraries are leading the UK's biggest and most successful reading promotion for 4-11 year olds, and we are immensely proud to be coordinating their work.".
Michael Rosen, Patron of the Summer Reading Challenge, says "If there's one thing families do in the school holidays, it should be joining the library to take part in The Summer Reading Challenge. Schools can't be the sole focus of our efforts to ensure all young people grow up to be skilled readers - libraries are crucial. The Challenge is a massive opportunity to understand, champion and join in what libraries do for young readers"
The Reading Agency is also coordinating Summer Reading Challenge volunteering opportunities for young people in a growing number of local libraries. The work is supported by the John Laing Charitable Trust. Present at the House of Commons were representatives of the 3000 young people expected to volunteer this summer.
"We are calling for every Head Teacher to weave The Summer Reading Challenge into the school improvement plan and to ensure every primary school child is a member of their local library, every family knows the library is a free resource, and that class visits to the library happen throughout the year" says Miranda McKearney of The Reading Agency
Also present at today's launch were children who had successfully completed the Challenge in previous years and will be signing up to take part again in 2011. Ashviny from St Matthew Academy in Lewisham says: "I find it really fun - my brother and I see it as a challenge and we work against each other to see who could read the 6 books the fastest"
Cultural Olympiad plans
A key development in the future success of The Summer Reading Challenge is its selection to be part the London 2012 Festival. The Reading Agency will be working with libraries to stage a huge reading extravaganza all over the UK. The 2012 challenge aims to reach one million children with the fun and freedom of reading. Librarians, storytellers, writers, performers and teenage volunteers will inspire children to explore the transformational power of the world's stories.
