 |
|
|
|
News from The Reading Agency
|
 |
Summer Reading Challenge conference
Ten years into the Summer Reading Challenge we are running a conference aimed at senior librarians and strategic education advisers
to look at how the Challenge can be used strategically across local authorities. Speakers include Estelle Morris, Michael Rosen, Paul Collard
and John Harris director of children's services in Herts, plus research into the impact schools perceive the challenge to have on children's
reading. There's a discount if librarians and education advisers come as a pair and an early bird discount!
Book now to avoid
disappointment.
|
|
PLA conference
We are at the big libraries' conference of the year, the Public Library Authorities' conference, where our director Miranda McKearney is speaking with Liz Forgan, Chair of Arts Council England, about the powerful potential for libraries' reading work and sharing our manifesto for taking the work forward. While senior project manager Claire Styles is running sessions looking at volunteering with young people and a new marketing campaign for libraries designed by young people. Speeches and presentations are on our discussion forum so you can comment on any of the issues raised.
|
 Patron Mike Gayle with our 2009 Prize Draw winner Dunja
|
Six Book Challenge At an inspiring event attended by our Six Book Challenge patron Mike Gayle, librarians, literacy tutors, and learners we launched our new Six Book Challenge website and the third year of the Challenge. It was particularly inspiring to hear from Mary Jervis who completed the Challenge last year. See videos and blog about your experiences on the website. If you want to take advantage of the early bird offer and join the libraries, workplaces, prisons, colleges and others running the Challenge then visit our Shop.
|
|
groupthing.org We brought young people and libraries together at a groupthing event that was part of the Festival at Free Word, our lovely new home. Over 70 library authorities are already using groupthing, which supports creative reading activities for young people using the social media tools that they are familiar with. Professionals working with young people and reading have access to peer support, ideas, offers and free resources. Poetry and manga competitions will be running on the site shortly. Subscriptions available from the Shop.
|
 |
|
Reading and Health
In partnership with the Society of Chief Librarians (SCL), we hosted a reading and health think tank involving libraries, the health sector and other key agencies. The event initiated an important debate about how libraries' work brings positive benefits to readers' health and well-being. We are now working with SCL to develop a national public library health and well-being offer. We are also working with individual regions to map reading and health work and develop bespoke regional training days. Read more or email debbie.hicks@readingagency.org.uk.
|
 |
Chatterbooks
Join the first cohort of schools library services and public library services running Chatterbooks with schools this year. Chatterbooks is our network of children's reading groups that can help get children really fired up about reading. Schools library services and public library services are being given the chance to purchase and use Chatterbooks in their reading offer to schools now, before we market it direct to schools in January 2010. And we are expanding Chatterbooks into schools overseas through our partnership with the British Council's Connecting Classrooms initiative. Read more or buy Chatterbooks packs and resources.
|
|
MyVoice
Last chance for young people interested in writing about the issues that they encounter in today's society to apply for one of nine writers' bursaries. The deadline is 12 noon on 23 October. We are running MyVoice in partnership with Creativity, Culture and Education, funded by Communities and Local Government. And thank you Birmingham libraries for loaning us Nikki Bi on secondment. More at www.myvoicewriteorwrong.org.
|
|
Reading Partners Reader2Writer Workshops
Reading Partners brings libraries, publishers and writers together to bring author visits and reading promotions to local people. In an exciting new joint industry initiative, project manager Sandy Mahal will be joined by publishers' publicity managers to run workshops for library staff. Drawing on their combined expertise, these practical sessions will show library staff how to pitch for and run successful author events and challenge their thinking on the difference that their events and promotions make. The first round of regional training will begin in 2010 and roll out over 18 months. To find out more, contact sandeep.mahal@readingagency.org.uk
|
|
BBC Radio 4 - Vote for a neglected classic
Radio 4 is launching a big initiative this autumn through Open Book and The Classic Serial. Mariella Frostrup will interview ten top authors on 18 and 25 October. Each author will pitch a classic book that they think has been unjustly neglected. Listeners will be asked to vote, with the winner being dramatised for the Classic Serial. Beyond that, though, Radio 4 are hoping to open up a big conversation about all those books and authors that somehow we've forgotten about, but which still provide a thrilling and memorable read. More information on the Open Book website at Radio 4.
|
|
Training
Our autumn training programme delivers a mixture of strategic support and support to run specific projects. Book now to secure a place.
|
|
Making Reading Count - showing the impact of libraries on local authority priorities, Thursday 22 October, BVSC, Birmingham
|
|
Championing reading - involving volunteers in reading groups, Thursday 5 November CILIP, London and Thursday 11 February 2010, York Central Library
|
|
Running the Six Book Challenge, Tuesday 10 November, CILIP, London and Tuesday 24 November, Priory Street Centre, York
|
|
Chatterbooks training for schools library services, Tuesday 17 November, Free Word, London. Chatterbooks training for public library services, Thursday 19 November, RIBA, London
|
|
Correction
In the last newsletter we stated that we were running Reading for Life in partnership with Booktrust. We are in fact working on Reading for Life in partnership with the National Literacy Trust (NLT).
|
|
Look out for...
Our new campaign The Big Secret. More information in next month's newsletter.
|
|
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
|
|
read - The Reading Agency Ltd
PO Box 96, St. Albans, Hertfordshire AL1 3WP
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 |