Libraries up and down the country are encouraging young readers to take part in the Summer Reading Challenge 2015.
The national campaign set up by The Reading Agency aims to get young people, aged between 4-11 years old, to read six books of their own choosing from their local library over the school’s summer holidays. The readers will collect fun stickers after visiting the library three times and other rewards will also be available during the literary programme.
Newcastle Libraries has added their own take on the idea by setting up the “Reading Selfie” competition. The idea is for young people to take a picture of themselves [and their family if they wish] reading their chosen book whilst on holiday, home or abroad. If the competition is warmly embraced then there could be images taken from Newcastle to New York and from Gosforth to Gran Canaria.
The theme of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge is “Record Breakers” with a list of 71 book titles being suggested to local libraries from the national organisers.
This week, Cabinet member for Communities and Facilities at Newcastle City Council, Cllr David Stockdale got the ball rolling by taking a selfie in the Council Chambers at Newcastle Civic Centre reading a copy of “Newcastle and Gateshead – Architecture and Heritage” published by Tyne Bridge Publishing – a book of his own choice.
Cllr Stockdale said: “The Summer Reading Challenge is a fun way for young people to continue their learning journey over the school holidays. The campaign is fantastic, as it not only encourages young readers to turn the pages of a book but also to visit and use with their local libraries.”
People can post their fun images on the @ToonLibraries@NewcastleCC Twitter addresses and by using the hashtags #SummerReadingChallenge and/or #NCCReadingSelfie plus the location of where the photograph was taken (country / place etc).
People can also post their images on Newcastle Libraries’ Face Book page www.facebook.com/NewcastleLibraries
Potential competition entrants have until Friday 4th September to post their images – with the winner being presented with their special ‘Summer Reading Challenge’ prize on Saturday 10th October at City Library from 10.30am-11:30am.
[The young people will need to seek parental guidance / presence before taking and posting their images].
For further information about the Summer Reading Challenge please visit www.summerreadingchallenge.org.uk and for additional details about Newcastle Libraries people should click on the “Leisure, Libraries and Tourism” pages of www.newcastle.gov.uk