East Midlands Regional Reading Group Network

We have teamed up with a number of partners to test the ideas set out in the government's Framework for the Future strategy for developing public libraries. Nine library services in the East Midlands have been trying out some new ideas for reading groups in libraries. We started in 2005 and finished in June 2008. The full evaluation of the findings from this pilot will be available shortly.

Many exciting activities introduced the benefits of reading groups to readers who haven't previously got involved and to support the reading groups that are already established. These included:

  • Storytelling for people who don't have many social opportunities, such as older people, asylum seekers, refugees and adults with mental health problems.
  • Activities developed with the RNIB for reading groups for readers with visual impairments.
  • A creative interactive writing project for reading groups across the region.

Library staff are working in partnership with care homes, hospitals, mental health support organisations and other voluntary groups. They are also establishing links with other regions through visits, conferences and information sharing.

Our partners in this project are the East Midlands Reader and Library Development group (EMRALD) with support from East Midlands Museums Libraries and Archives Council (EMMLAC) and the Museums, Libraries and Archive Council (MLA).

To find about more about this project and download information about the work we have done so far see Resources.