Scaling Up Success: The Future of the Summer Reading Challenge in Scotland

We're delighted to host a webinar welcoming the Reading Agency to speak to Librarians in Scotland about their annual Summer Reading Challenge. This webinar will be online via Zoom, taking place on Thursday the 11th September from 11am-12pm - click quick to register!

Children's reading is in crisis. Only 1 in 3 children and young people now enjoy reading – a 33% drop since 2005. Yet reading by choice remains the single biggest indicator of a child's opportunity and future success.

We know that the Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge delivered in partnership with public libraries works as a proven reading for pleasure intervention. It bucks the trend for children’s reading, engaging over half a million children annually, creating 100,000 new library members and generating 14 million book borrowings each summer.

In terms of impact, 79% of children say they read more after taking part in the Challenge with 95% subsequently reading at least once a week. At just £1 per child to deliver, participating children report significant improvements in reading enjoyment, confidence and wellbeing.

The Summer Reading Challenge is the UK’s biggest reading for pleasure programme. Delivered by public libraries, it places them strategically against key Council agendas including skills and learning, health and wellbeing and connected communities. It is supported by national evidence based built from 25 years of best practice and a proven pedagogy to support reading engagement and enjoyment.

We know that public library budgets and capacity are stretched and have been innovating to meet changing needs, reducing costs and adapting the model.

Join us for this webinar and find out about our ambitious plans to transform how we deliver the Summer Reading Challenge across Scotland. With transformative new cross-authority ways of working, new delivery and resource plans we want to work with public librariesto reach every child in Scotland.

Register Now!