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 are trying out some new ideas for reading groups in libraries. We started in 2005 and we will finish in June 2008 after which we will produce a full evaluation of our findings.

Many exciting activities are going on in the region to introduce the benefits of reading groups to readers who haven’t previously got involved and to support the reading groups that are already established. These include:

  • 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.