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News from The Reading Agency - April 2010
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Libraries' future must be led by public demand
Following the publishing last month of the government review of libraries The Modernisation Review of Public Libraries: A Policy Statement, Miranda McKearney called for libraries' future to be led by public demand. Read Miranda's full response on our discussion forum where you can log in and leave your comments too.
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Six Book Challenge
As more workplaces use the Six Book Challenge this year to increase reading confidence and literacy skills among their staff, we had some nice feedback from MerseyTravel. "The Six Book Challenge works for us because it is so flexible. With such a diverse workforce, including ferry captains, police officers, mobile staff, customer service staff, and a wide variety of white and blue collar teams, it has something for everyone. It motivates people to think about books and reading and encourages them to engage with our Skills for Life team to upgrade their skills and improve both morale and skills in the organisation." To join the workplaces, colleges, libraries and prisons running the Six Book Challenge 2010 visit www.sixbookchallenge.org.uk. You can also follow the links there to top up your existing Six Book Challenge materials.
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Reading Partners
As part of our series of author events that brings authors together with people in communities, we hosted an event with William Kamkwamba last month. William, a young Malawian, stumbled across a picture of a wind turbine in a book in his local library and then decided to build one himself despite having little resources or technical knowledge. Now, his windmill has brought electricity to his community and he's sharing his incredible true story around the world in his book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind.
If a book has inspired a new idea or taken your life in a new direction, tell us your story and you could win a Sony e-reader. Tell us which book has inspired you and how by 30 April. |
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Reading Detectives
Congratulations to the Reading Detectives Team in Kent Libraries who have won a Kent CC award for working with the community. Reading Detectives was our interactive challenge that got library based reading groups tracking down lost or forgotten pieces of writing. It was a really important project for us in demonstrating how library reading groups can be the focus of community partnerships and heritage activities so we were thrilled to hear that Kent had been recognised for their "work across organisations to improve services, to meet and understand the needs of all parties involved, for looking at community in its broadest sense and their involvement in partnership working."
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MyVoice
Talking of good news we are also very pleased that one of our mentor on the MyVoice project, the hip-hop performance poet Akala, is planning to donate 10% of all profits collected through his exclusive pledge campaign to The Reading Agency. Akala's new album DOUBLETHINK is released on 3 May. Akala said: "as much of what I do was inspired by something I have read, (in this case 1984) I thought that The Reading Agency would be a great fit." To pledge, go to www.pledgemusic.com/projects/akala . MyVoice matches young writers with writing mentors and is part of our strategy to bring readers and writers together.
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London Book Fair
Come and find us at the London Book Fair. On 20 April a 2.30pm we will be chairing a British Council event on South African literature and on 21 April at 10am we are part of an arts council panel on libraries and their partnerships. Visit the London Book Fair website to find out more.
Also on 20 April at 4.30pm we will be hosting a networking and information event for UK children's librarians, and presenting some of the forthcoming highlights from children's publishers in the Children's Reading Partners scheme. Confirmed authors are Cathy Hopkins and Jonathon Stroud. But this is by pre-registration and ticket only. To register your interest please email Jenny Warner. |
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Orange prize
The Orange Prize longlist of 20 titles was released recently and the shortlist will be revealed on 20 April. There's a great mix of books in this year's prize. We still have some very limited stock of promotional materials available to libraries who want publicise the prize so visit the Shop now if you want to sign up.
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National Literacy Trust's Vote for Literacy campaign
The National Literacy Trust has launched a Vote for Literacy campaign calling on all political parties to prioritise literacy in 2010 election. They are asking everyone to pledge their support for the campaign - pledge online now and by publicise the campaign through their networks. Find out more at www.literacytrust.org.uk/voteforliteracy
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Training programmes
Chatterbooks for schools: For teaching and non-teaching staff who want to set up Chatterbooks. It covers how to set up and run a group, how to make the most of Chatterbooks to develop children as enthusiastic and successful readers. 11 May, RIBA, London and 24 September, Newcastle Library, Newcastle upon Tyne
More information and book a place here. |
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Look out for...
The next Geekcamp... If you're interested in meeting literature and arts people to see and discuss digital things then geekcamp is the meet-up for you. The date has changed from 24 March to 19 May. Please register for your free tickets as space is limited.
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Keeping in touch
For information about all our projects and resources visit the website, follow us on Twitter and tell use what you think at the discussion forum. To unsubscribe click here or send an email to reading.agency@readingagency.org.uk
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read - The Reading Agency Ltd
Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, London EC1R 3GA
Company limited by guarantee, registered number 3904882 (England & Wales)
Registered charity number 1085443 (England & Wales) Registered Office c/o CW Fellowes, Templars House, Lulworth Close, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire SO53 3TL |