Record Breakers – Summer Reading Challenge 2015
The Summer Reading Challenge is the UK’s biggest children’s reading initiative for 4 -11 year-olds and is produced by The Reading Agency and delivered by libraries. Record Breakers was the 17th annual Summer Reading Challenge and was produced in association with Guinness World Records. The scheme aims to build children’s confidence and excitement about reading and to encourage children to continue reading through the long summer holidays and combat a dip in reading levels whilst they are out of school.
Record Breakers was widely promoted by the library service during June in in primary schools, in libraries and at outside events and from 11 July children in the borough could sign up at their local library to receive a fold-out poster which explored wonderful and wacky records from around the world. For each of six books they read they earned a sticker showing information about a Guinness World Record to add to their poster. Children could update their progress through the challenge at any library in the borough. Everyone who read six books before the closing date of 12 September was rewarded with a gold medal in the library and with a certificate sent to their school or home in the autumn term.
Across the borough an astonishing 4,357 children started the challenge and a record 3,051 children read six books by 12 September. Record Breakers was particularly popular with children aged 4 -7 years old. This is the highest number of children that has ever completed the Summer Reading Challenge in Richmond borough so for us it was a record year thanks to the enthusiasm of local families and our library staff.
The Summer Reading Challenge website http://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/ is accessible all year so that children can use the book sorter to find out titles of books they might enjoy, enter competitions and play games or join and log on to write book recommendations.
Richmond Library Service is looking forward to delivering the 2016 Summer Reading Challenge, which will be entitled ’The Big Friendly Read’ and prepared in association with The Roald Dahl Literary Estate to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Roald Dahl.
Tweet This[ by Janice Pratt, Librarian ]