Department for Culture Media and Sport
promoting reading & learning
"Books, Reading and Learning" is one of the four work strands of Framework for the Future. This outlines a series of projects and improvements to further the cause of reading in libraries and to support people of all ages in their reading development.
Bookstart is a national programme which gives free books to babies and young children. It has been running since 1992, but in 2005, funding has been allocated by the Sure Start Unit to increase its scope significantly. From April 2006, every child in England will receive a pack of books at age 9 months, 18 months and 3 years. These packs include advice to parents on sharing books and information about joining the library. Public libraries are instrumental in delivery and enhance the programme by running rhyme time sessions and other activities for parents and their children. Bookstart is administered by Booktrust.
The Summer Reading Challenge is a national programme for children aged between 4 and 11 years. They are encouraged to read 6 books over the summer holidays and receive a certificate and a medal for doing so. This programme combines reading with fun and creative activities in public libraries and an interactive website. 660,000 children took part in 2006. The Summer Reading Challenge is run by The Reading Agency.
Public libraries support all kinds of learning, encompassing both formal and informal. However, they can be particularly valuable in encouraging people with particular needs. The Vital Link project is funded through Framework for the Future and aims to encourage libraries to support adults with low literacy levels. This is done through setting up partnerships with local adult education providers, by increasing awareness of library staff and by improving the book stock appropriate to this target group.
Partnerships work.The Reading Agency are leading on brokering partnerships for public libraries with key organisations. These include major Publishers and the BBC. Both of these partnerships give libraries added promotional weight and encourage more people to use them.
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