Press releases
Welcome to our press release section. Here you can read all about the things we have been up to by downloading our recent press releases. If you have any questions about any of our work then please Contact us. If you have a press enquiry then see Media centre.
The Reading Agency: a new home and new trustees
The Reading Agency is delighted to announce that it is now based at Free Word Centre for literacy, literature and free expression. It is also excited this month to welcome new members to The Reading Agency's board of trustees, who bring with them a wealth of ideas and experience. Read full press release.
Reading at work: changing lives
Trade unions and public library services can share innovative approaches to encouraging reading in the workplace through a new Reading Agency publication, which outlines how it can be a powerful force for social change. Read full press release.
Chatterbooks unveils new-look materials
The Reading Agency today unveils its new range of Chatterbooks materials, designed to help libraries across the UK develop children's reading groups through the shared Chatterbooks network. As Chatterbooks moves into its eighth successful year with an ever-growing number of children taking part, the materials have been redesigned by children's illustrator Andy Ward, working with Chatterbooks members feeding in their ideas to the design process. Read full press release.
Major new children's reading promotion Spotlight launches
In May 2009, the Reading Agency is launching Spotlight, a major new children's reading promotion, in collaboration with Children's Reading Partners, the library/publishing consortium. Spotlight is the result of an unprecedented cross-industry collaboration, drawing on the expertise of children's librarians to highlight the very best that children's publishing has to offer. Read full press release.
New national reading group network in development
The Reading Agency is planning to develop a national network called Chatabout to support the growing number of reading groups for new adult readers. It is keen to hear from potential funders or sponsors and from those already running groups of this kind. Read full press release.
Great end of year results for The Reading Agency and libraries
As the National Year of Reading draws to a close, The Reading Agency is delighted to announce major 2008 successes in its mission to inspire more people to read more. It congratulates its library partners on making big strides in developing powerful national reading programmes. Read full press release.
New chair for The Reading Agency: Liz Cleaver of BBC Learning
The Reading Agency is delighted to announce that its new chair will be Liz Cleaver, Controller of BBC Learning. Liz takes over from Martin Molloy in March 2009. Read full press release.
Chatterbooks enters new phase
Chatterbooks, the UK wide network of children's reading groups, is celebrating seven years of award-winning work, and announcing new 2009 plans.
From January 2009 The Reading Agency will be taking Chatterbooks forward with a new look, consulting with Chatterbooks members about new materials, offering reading promotions through an exciting new partnership with children's publishers, and trialling new approaches to developing children's reading confidence including working with digital media. Read full press release.
Chatterbooks enters new phase
Chatterbooks, the UK wide network of children's reading groups, is celebrating seven years of award-winning work, and announcing new 2009 plans.
From January 2009 The Reading Agency will be taking Chatterbooks forward with a new look, consulting with Chatterbooks members about new materials, offering reading promotions through an exciting new partnership with children's publishers, and trialling new approaches to developing children's reading confidence including working with digital media. Read full press release.
Chatterbooks enters new phase
Chatterbooks, the UK wide network of children's reading groups, is celebrating seven years of award-winning work, and announcing new 2009 plans.
From January 2009 The Reading Agency will be taking Chatterbooks forward with a new look, consulting with Chatterbooks members about new materials, offering reading promotions through an exciting new partnership with children's publishers, and trialling new approaches to developing children's reading confidence including working with digital media. Read full press release.
groupthing.org: engaging young people with reading
Major new website available for subscriber enquiries
A new website where young people creatively engage with reading and words goes into the final stages of development in November. groupthing.org is our major new initiative that we are developing with young people. Libraries, schools and youth groups are invited to subscribe now so they can get special subscription rates, time to put content onto the site before it goes live in January 2009 and a free promotional print pack. Read full press release.
Library reading groups: explosion in membership
New research shows groups thriving and diversifying
In the first week of the government's modernisation review of libraries, The Reading Agency has released new research into library reading groups. It shows that the number of groups in England and Wales has risen by 149 per cent in the last four years. There are now roughly 10,000 library-linked reading groups in England and Wales, providing 100,000 people with new reading opportunities. Read full press release.
The Reading Agency at the Public Library Authorities conference
How our programmes can support local authority agendas
We gave a number of presentations at the Public Library Authorities' Conference 2008 on October 8-10 in Liverpool, including Reading and performance management and Private sector partnerships. Project director, Liz Dubber, along with one of our trustees, Janene Cox, assistant director of culture and libraries in Staffordshire, talked about how many of our programmes can help libraries to deliver on local authority agendas and targets. LocalAuthorityAgendasFlyer.pdf
Young people have their say in north west libraries
Project celebration event: York: 18 June 2008
A project that has enabled over 288 young people aged 11 to 19 years across Yorkshire and Humberside to make key decisions about what they want from their local libraries celebrates its success with a special event on Wednesday 18 June in explore, Library Learning Centre, Acomb, York. Read full press release.
Libraries, reading and innovation: be part of the debate
The Reading Agency is launching a New Thinking publications programme, capturing cutting edge thinking and challenging debate about reading, and libraries' work with readers. Read full press release.
Children's publishers and libraries: new partnership scheme launches
A new partnership scheme between children's publishers and librarians begins work this month (May 2008), heralding a new era of joint work. Called Children's Reading Partners, it is led by The Reading Agency and involves 12 children's publishers, The Publishers' Association and the main children's library bodies. Read full press release.
Exciting developments in libraries' partnership with the book trade
Major developments in libraries' relationship with the book trade were announced at this week's Booksellers Association conference in Brighton (12-13 May 2008), during a session led by The Reading Agency and the Reading Partners library/publisher consortium. Read full press release.
Summer Reading Challenge™: Ten years old
We are proud that our national Summer Reading Challenge™ is celebrating ten years of working with the UK library network to keep children reading over their summer holidays, with potentially life-changing results. Read full press release.
Major publishers launch cross-country library-author programme for National Year of Reading
A huge Reader Meets Writer programme including some of the UK’s best-known authors and covering all of the 149 library authorities in England will be announced on 15 April 2008 at the London Book Fair. Read full press release
New solutions to help every child love reading
Enjoying Reading is an important new initiative to help every child love reading by encouraging schools and libraries to work more closely together. Read full press release.
Their Reading Futures: newly designed website
New opportunities to develop essential library staff skills
The Reading Agency is delighted to announce the launch of the latest website version of Their Reading Futures (TRF), which is at www.theirreadingfutures.org.uk. TRF is the online resource which provides training, information and news for all library staff, inspiring and supporting their reading work with children, young people, families and schools. Read full press release.
Young people and libraries: conference shines light on new future
A landmark conference this week heralded a new era for libraries‘ work with young people. A new Youth Libraries Offer was launched, along with innovative models of shaping and delivering library services with their young users. Read full press release.
Novelist Mike Gayle announced as patron of Six Book Challenge™ initiative
The Reading Agency, the independent charity working to get more reading to more people, is delighted to announce the appointment of best-selling author Mike Gayle as Patron of its new national Six Book Challenge™ initiative.
HeadSpace Efford welcomes young readers
Plymouth Library Services is delighted to launch HeadSpace Efford, a completely different kind of library provision developed and run in partnership with young people and The Reading Agency.
Date: Monday 14 January 2008
Time: 5-7pm
Venue: Efford Library, Torridge Way, Plymouth
Reading, libraries and community engagement – the way ahead
Successful outcome to 30 November conference
The Reading Agency and the Local Government Association are delighted to report that their joint conference on Community Engagement Through Reading (30 November, London) generated much productive and thought-provoking debate. It has also provided a starting point for exciting new work and fruitful partnerships. All delegates have committed themselves to an action inspired by the day.
Reaching new markets - a guide to developing a successful BME strategy
Rageh Omaar to chair 22 November seminar
The Reading Agency and the Bookseller are delighted to announce a joint conference exploring the positive ways that libraries, publishers and retailers can work together to grow the book market, promote Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) authors and target a multi-ethnic audience. The event will be chaired by renowned broadcaster and writer Rageh Omaar.
The Reading Agency celebrates fifth birthday
by announcing plans to mark 2008 Year of Reading
As the National Year of Reading approaches, The Reading Agency is celebrating five years of inspiring more people to read more. At a special event on 8 November 2007 at the Royal Festival Hall, London, it will announce a future research and events programme, launch new branding and share news of several major initiatives. Read full press release (pdf).
Publishers back National Year of Reading to bring readers and writers together
At last week’s Public Library Authorities’ Conference (Glasgow: 11-12 October 2007) it was announced that nine of the biggest UK publishers are backing the 2008 National Year of Reading with an array of ambitious activities to connect readers to writers in every English library authority. Read full press release (pdf).
Fulfilling their Potential
Yorkshire and Humberside
A new regional initiative for young people and libraries
The Reading Agency, the independent charity working to get more reading to more people, is delighted to announce that Fulfilling their Potential (FtP) is under way in Yorkshire and Humberside. Read full press release (pdf).
Announcing the theme for the 2008 Summer Reading Challenge
The theme for the 2008 Summer Reading Challenge will be Sport. We'll be involving lots of children in the ideas for the new design and will give a sneak preview of the poster later in the autumn.
National Six Book Challenge™
In association with the Costa Book Awards
The Reading Agency, the independent charity working to get more reading to more people, is delighted to announce the launch of a national Six Book Challenge in association with the Costa Book Awards. The Six Book Challenge™ is targeted at adults who want to improve their literacy skills, and forms part of the Vital Link programme for libraries and literacy run by The Reading Agency in partnership with the National Literacy Trust. Read full press release (pdf).
Headspace welcomes young readers
The Reading Agency, the independent charity working to get more reading to more people, is delighted to launch HeadSpace. HeadSpace is the new name and brand for the project known to date as Book Bars – a completely different kind of library provision developed and run in partnership between libraries and young people across England. It will provide environments where young people will choose the furniture and books for their new spaces, can chill out and enjoy cutting-edge reading experiences. Read full press release (pdf).
Libraries Challenge Children to Change their World
The Summer Reading Challenge™ (SRC) is every parent‘s godsend: running in the UK’s libraries during July and August it provides children with a fun, FREE activity that not only entertains them, but keeps them reading during the six week break from school. Read full press release (pdf).
Reaching new markets – a guide to developing a successful BME strategy
The Reading Agency, the independent charity working to get more reading to more people and The Bookseller are delighted to announce a joint conference exploring the positive ways that librarians, publishers and retailers can work together to grow the book market, promote Black and Miniority Ethnic (BME) authors and target a multi-ethnic audience. The event will be chaired by renowned broadcaster and writer Rageh Omaar.
Read full press release (pdf)