Read a million words

Local Libraries Summer Reading Challenge - Team Read 2008

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge is themed around sports and is called Team Read. A wide range of resources are available for libraries and an interactive Team Read website (www.teamread.co.uk) will be launched on 16 June, linking children with top authors and illustrators whilst giving them space to talk about their favourite books and share reading ideas. Leading children’s publishers have always backed the Summer Reading Challenge, and now support from the RNIB National Library Service means that Large Print materials are available nationally, making the scheme accessible for children with visual impairment.

The Summer Reading Challenge now reaches 650,000 children annually and is run in 97% of the UK’s public libraries. It will make a key contribution to the 2008 National Year of Reading. As always, children will be challenged to read six books over the summer, through their local library. They receive a special pack and a set of incentives to collect as they read. Last year, 338,000 children successfully completed the Summer Reading Challenge and received a certificate or medal.

A new website www.enjoyingreading.org.uk also supports school and library partnerships. It includes the new library offer for schools plus case studies illustrating practical ways that schools and libraries can work together to develop children as enthusiastic readers.