Reading Love Libraries  Love Libraries has been created by The Future Libraries Partnership, a unique alliance of the public and private sectors including the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Society of Chief Librarians, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, nine British publishers and The Reading Agency .
Combining existing best practice in libraries and new ideas for an inspiring new vision of a reading centred library service, Love Libraries aims to showcase an exciting, replicable template for other libraries. It also aims to galvanise consumers into demanding a better standard of service from their local library. Visit the Love Libraries website for more information and regular progress updates. Encouraging young readers Enjoying Reading is a coordinated approach to supporting young readers through a partnership between schools, school libraries, scholl library services and public libraries. It aims to help every child love reading by encouraging schools and libraries to work in partnership. The website was funded by the Department for Children Schools and Families. It demonstrates how libraries can support schools and provides practical resources for joint work. The Summer Reading Challenge is the largest national reading promotion for young people (aged 4-11). It is managed by The Reading Agency and run within 99% of English library authorities through the summer holidays, supported by leading children's publishers. Children borrow and read up to 6 books, collecting stickers for each book they read. At the end of the summer they get a certificate recording their achievement, and a medal if they have completed the challenge. In many libraries they are encouraged to talk with staff about their books, and take part in linked activities.  Sharing books with babies and toddlers is a wonderful way to increase language skills and helps children to understand their world. Babies and toddlers who love books begin reading sooner and have a better chance at school. Bookstart is a national programme that provides young children and their families with free packs of books plus tips and ideas for parents on how to enjoy sharing books together. It helps parents to understand the importance their contribution can make in giving their child a good start to their education and future life chances. Bookstart is co-ordinated by Booktrust, an independent national charity that encourages people of all ages to discover books and enjoy reading.  Extending Bookstart (PDF 624KB)
Developing staff skills MLA is working with Opening the Book and The Reading Agency to support online training to provide staff with skills needed to deliver modern library services. Frontline is an online course in the basic theory and practice of reader-centred work in the adult library. It is managed by Opening the Book and designed for staff who have direct contact with readers on the library floor. Their Reading Futures is a Reading Agency initiative which provides training to help libraries deliver the best reader development services for young people. It is aimed at all staff working in libraries with young readers, both frontline staff and managers. Improving the quality of book stock The Stock Quality Health Check has been developed by Opening the Book for the Audit Commission, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and Arts Council England. It provides an important self assessment toolkit to enable libraries to assess the relevance, depth and range of their adult fiction and poetry book stocks. The Centre for the Public Library and Information in Society at the University of Sheffield has carried out an evaluation of the toolkit: its use and impact, value and potential role in public library performance measurement. Their report is available from the University's website. Reading groups A strategy for developing reading groups as part of Framework for the Future, has been produced by The Reading Agency.  The Case for Reading Group Development in Public Libraries, September 2004 (PDF 1.3MB)
 The Case for Reading Group Development in Public Libraries, September 2004 (Word 1.3MB )
The People's Network Read service brings the special relationship and tradition that England’s public libraries have with books and reading into the online world. It helps bring readers together, either to meet up face to face or on the web. You can meet with others online to talk about your favourite and less favourite reads at reader2reader.net or find out where to hook up with a reading group in your local area using Find a reading group . There are also some great websites for all types of readers featured in Reading links to help turn everyone onto books and reading. The reading mission A PowerPoint has been developed which defines the mission, and provides a range of definitions and supporting information to support libraries in developing their work with readers and in demonstrating its importance to major partners, funders and stakeholders.  The reading mission (PPT 124 KB)
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