Press releases

The Reading Agency: a new home and new trustees

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:28:40 +0000

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

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 10:18:33 +0000

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

Mon, 11 May 2009 14:33:36 +0000

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

Wed, 06 May 2009 21:31:38 +0000

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

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:37:59 +0000

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

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 11:59:45 +0000

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

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:44:58 +0000

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

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:11:25 +0000

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

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:11:25 +0000

Chatterbooks, the UK wide network of children's reading groups, is celebrating seven years of award-winning work, and announcing new 2009 plans.

Chatterbooks enters new phase

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 14:11:25 +0000

Chatterbooks, the UK wide network of children's reading groups, is celebrating seven years of award-winning work, and announcing new 2009 plans.

groupthing.org: engaging young people with reading

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:09:01 +0000

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

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:33:00 +0000

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

Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:48:44 +0000

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

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:29:24 +0000

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

Sat, 17 May 2008 16:28:08 +0000

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.