Archived decisions

NATIONAL YEAR OF READING

On 25 February 2008, the Cabinet considered a report on the National Year of Reading and agreed that this campaign will be fully supported by each service within the County Council.

The aim of the National Year of Reading is to create a national focus of opportunities and activities that can be delivered locally. The last campaign was held in 1998 and since that time a number of significant changes have occurred in terms of publishing methods and access to reading - many writers now have their own websites and books can be purchased on line often at discounted prices. The National Year of Reading will be a year long celebration and the County Council aims to build a greater passion for reading amongst children, families and adult learners alike, as well as promoting the importance of literacy.

The County Council's Library and Information Service will lead the campaign in Hampshire, with a programme of events and activities, which it is hoped will provide something for everyone:

    · Hampshire Poet competition - the winner was selected on 31 March and will receive four paid commissions to commemorate local projects and activities over 2008.

    · Hampshire Big Read - will encourage people to read the same book and provide reviews to be published on the web to share their enjoyment and experience of reading.

    · Book Crossing - books are left for people to pick up and read in public spaces across the county, for example, in our country parks, on footpath stiles or on the train. The books can be registered on the Book Crossing website and tracked, as long as the person finding the book goes on the website too.

    · Book Swaps - as part of the BBC Raw Campaign, 10,000 collections of books nationwide are being deposited in businesses and public places, for example, Winchester Railway Station

    · A writing competition for children under 12 - the best dozen short stories will be published later in the year. Sponsorship is being sought for this promotion.

    · Pop-up libraries - taking the library out into the community - like Street Doctor on the BBC.

    · Library membership drive - part of the national campaign. In the Hart and Rushmoor area, people who have not used their library card for more than a year are being targeted to encourage them to start using the library again. They will be monitored against a control group to see what impact the campaign has had

    · More Reading Groups will be set up, for example, for Visually Impaired People (VIPs). There will be an event at Netley Country Park on 4 September for existing VIP reading groups, featuring Philip Hoare's book `Spike Island' which is about the hospital that used to be on the site.

    · Hampshire County Council staff will be encouraged to become Reading Volunteers -in schools, in old people's homes and in hospitals in the way they are encouraged to be Governors

    · Summer Reading Challenge for children - this popular annual promotion gets children reading during the summer holidays helping to maintain literacy levels and provide enjoyment at the same time

    · Share a Book at Bedtime - will encourage parents to read to their children as part of our countywide focus on families

    · Book Ahead - linked to a national project through which Hampshire has been awarded by government £86,000 to buy books to loan to Early Years settings e.g. playgroups.

    · The Library and Information Service will cooperate with schools and other agencies to extend the work with young parents with low levels of literacy

    · Wessex Book Festival 2008 - from 24 - 30 November this festival will provide children and adults with an opportunity to see and hear some popular authors and writers.

    · Reading Champions - a national campaign to get role models in the local community (e.g. sports personalities or county councillors) to promote reading.

    · Extreme Reading : get caught reading - whether on one of Hampshire County Council's Rights of Way, the climbing wall at Calshot, or the Spinnaker Tower - this will be a fun way to promote and encourage reading.

The National Year of Reading is a great way to get communities involved in a wide range of reading activities whilst helping to improve literacy standards.

T. K. THORNBER, C.B.E.,

Leader.