MP donates children’s books to Maidenhead library
Rt Hon Theresa May MP celebrated the success of children’s literature last week at a House of Commons reception held by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Libraries and Information Management.
The All Party Group heard how children’s book borrowing from public libraries is increasing thanks to the hard work of librarians and partner organisations, and schemes like the Summer Reading Challenge. The Summer Reading Challenge is organised by The Reading Agency and takes a powerful new, and nationally co-ordinated approach, to inspiring children to read.
Every year, more and more children take part in the Summer Reading Challenge, undertaken in partnership with public libraries and supported by children’s publishers. This year an amazing 700,000 children are expected to take part across the UK.
’To get more readers, reading more we need to harness the power of public libraries,’ said Rt Hon Theresa May MP. ’What’s most exciting is that the range and quality of children’s books is better than ever, and working in partnership with publishers and booksellers, libraries can help expand the market. They help children get the reading habit early, and make it possible for parents and carers to give children a huge variety of books. I am pleased to support the Summer Reading Challenge, and happy to present Maidenhead Library with a donation of books courtesy of The Reading Agency’s publishing partners.’
To arrange a photo opportunity or library visit, or for more information about libraries in your area please contact Mark Taylor, Library and Information Services Manager at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
Notes:
- The Reading Agency is a charity working to inspire and support libraries in creating the best possible access to reading for everyone. It does this through a mixture of innovative pilot models, national programmes and partnership working. The Reading Agency is funded by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and Arts Council England.
- 88.6m children’s books were borrowed from public libraries in 2004/05, an increase of 2% on the previous year, the first year on year increase in almost a decade.
- The Summer Reading Challenge is in its eighth year and has grown successively since the start. It encourages children to read for pleasure during the long school holiday, and is aimed at children aged 4-12.
- There are over 4200 public libraries in the UK. All of them offer a wide selection of new and favourite children’s books, from board books for babies to graphic novels and Japanese Manga aimed at teenagers and young adults. Membership is free and it costs nothing to borrow the books!
- The All Party Parliamentary Group on Libraries and Information Management is chaired by Lyn Brown MP. The secretariat is provided by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals through AS Biss & Co.
