Learning
Off the shelf: summer reading schemes - Insight magazine
Summary: Liz Farrell, the Children’s Librarian from the RNIB National Library Service, offers great ideas for getting children reading this summer. Article from issue 15 of Insight magazine.
Summer reading schemes
What better way to keep children occupied over the summer holidays than by feeding their imaginations, with prizes and activities along the way to keep them interested?
The Summer Reading Challenge is an annual reading event that takes place in libraries nationwide. Each year has a different theme which this year is sport. It will be known as “Team Read”, in keeping with August's theme for the National Year of Reading - "Read the game".
How to take part
A child borrows six books and gets a sticker each time they return a finished book. If they read all six they receive a medal and certificate.
The RNIB National Library Service (NLS) has teamed up with The Reading Agency to provide libraries with summer reading packs in large print, including folder, stickers, and certificate. Young readers who are blind can borrow the books in braille, giant print and daisy talking book, and can order booklists of recommended sporty reads from NLS.
Get into libraries this summer!
We want our young readers to have the same opportunity as their sighted friends. Taking part in the Challenge will open the public library door for blind and partially sighted readers.
Public libraries have such a lot to offer, with storytelling sessions and events such as “Rhyme-times”, which children who have sight problems can attend and enjoy with their sighted friends. Many libraries also host reading groups for young people, so ask your local library how they could accommodate a partially sighted child. And if they don't offer as much as you had hoped, then tell them so, and make your voice heard!
Carnegie medal
The CILIP Carnegie medal is awarded annually by children's librarians for "an outstanding book for children and young people".
Each year NLS runs a nationwide "shadowing scheme" giving its young members the opportunity to get involved in predicting the winner, by reading and voting for their favourites from the shortlist. We provide all the shortlisted titles in braille, giant print and Daisy talking book (synthetic speech). If you are interested in reading any of this year's seven books, please telephone Liz Farrell on 0161 355 2061, or email liz.farrell@rnib.org.uk.
Content author: insightmagazine@rnib.org.uk
Last updated: 22/07/2008 10:47
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