A new range of library cards is being launched by North Yorkshire Library Service with the help of Selby resident Emy Spinks.
Emy, who is autistic, first joined Selby library last year to take part in the Reading Ahead challenge. She enjoyed it so much that she has signed up again this year and also wanted to give something back to the library.
So she used her artistic skills to develop a range of designs for library cards, all with a theme of books and reading. She worked with a designer from the Blueberry Academy, which provides specialist support for adults with learning difficulties, to bring them to life and now the cards have been professionally produced and are available in libraries across North Yorkshire.
Emy, 20, first visited the library as part of her Personalised Learning Pathway. The Pathways are programmes of further education which support young people with special educational needs and disabilities to enable them to develop and progress in areas which interest and motivate them. Emy’s learning is lead by the Adult Learning and Skills service in partnership with the Blueberry Academy and Springhead School in Scarborough.
The Reading Ahead scheme is run by the Reading Agency to encourage adults who struggle to read. The aim is to pick six books, magazines, newspapers or websites to read and review in order to obtain a certificate.
Cllr Chris Metcalfe, Executive Member for Library and Information Services, said: “Emy has put a lot of hard work into developing the designs for her library cards and I am delighted with the results. I am sure they will prove to be very popular with library members across the county.”