Reading for Pleasure guides

During the National Year of Reading, together with the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE), we created a series of ideas packs for practitioners working with adults in a range of different settings - see below. Each contains a list of top ten ideas, case studies and a section on useful resources.

The aim is to support you in introducing learners to reading in all its forms - books, magazines, websites, lyrics - not just this year but every year. We need to widen people's concept of reading so that they can think of themselves as 'readers' whatever kind of reading they enjoy. We know that learners can get the reading bug if they are encouraged to choose what they read and can share their experience of reading with others. Reading needs to fit into their busy lives, be relevant to their interests and concerns but also to surprise them with new ideas and ways of looking at the world.

Research tells us that reading for pleasure "helps to increase enjoyment, self-confidence, motivation and the acquisition of functional literacy skills." Libraries are ideally placed to support learners as they discover an enjoyment of reading of all kinds. Other organisations also have expertise and resources to offer which can help to engage people in a love of reading, including local authorities, colleges, prisons, trade unions, businesses and voluntary organisations.