Libraries
Marvellous Makers - Summer Reading Challenge 2024
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Walsall Council’s libraries across the borough are once again taking part in the annual Summer Reading Challenge, which takes place from Saturday 6 July to Saturday 7 September 2024.
Last year, over 1,600 children across the borough took part in the challenge to read six or more library books over the summer. Aimed at children aged 4 to 11 years, the challenge encourages them to keep up the reading habit over the long summer break from school.
To launch this year’s Summer Reading Challenge initiative, Walsall Libraries will be holding a number of free activities for families on Saturday 6 July 2024. Free materials and more activities will also be available from all Walsall Libraries throughout the summer holidays as well as online via the Summer Reading Challenge website.
For more information, visit:
“ This is a great initiative and I’m looking forward to seeing children across the borough take part in the challenge.
“It’s free to join the library and all our libraries - Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Darlaston, Lichfield Street, Streetly and Willenhall - are supporting the programme. Reading is fun, and this challenge aims to improve children’s reading skills and confidence over the summer months and instil in them a lifelong love for learning. “
This year’s theme is Marvellous Makers, and the theme has been developed in partnership with leading arts charity Create. It’s all about creativity with something for everyone, covering dance to drawing, and junk modelling to music.
How the challenge works…
- Children sign up at the library to start their challenge.
- They choose the books they want to read and borrow them from the library.
- Time to get reading! For every book that’s read, children will pick up stickers along with other rewards as they progress through the challenge.
- Every child who completes the challenge and reads six library books, receives a certificate.
Children can also take part online at: https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/.
The Summer Reading Challenge is organised by the Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with libraries. Each book in the collection has been specially chosen by an expert group of readers for everyone taking part to enjoy. The choice includes picture books, early reader books, middle grade books and longer chapter books, ideal for confident readers. Audiobooks and eBooks can all be used to complete the challenge.
Notes to editors
About Walsall libraries
The borough of Walsall has seven libraries:
- Aldridge Community Library
- Bloxwich Community Library
- Brownhills Community Library
- Darlaston Community Library
- Lichfield Street Hub
- Streetly Community Library
- Willenhall Community Library
To find out more about what’s on at your local library, visit: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/walsall-libraries
Walsall Library members can access over 8,000 bestselling eAudiobooks and eBooks and a wide range of national magazines or daily or Sunday papers free of charge through the BorrowBox and PressReader apps.
Those with Walsall Library memberships also have access to a number of free digital services. These include Ancestry Library Edition and Find My Past, Access to Research, the Go Citizen study resource, sample driving exams on Theory Test Pro, and Which? Extra, detailing the latest reports for consumers.
To find out more about Walsall’s 24/7 online library services, visit: http://go.walsall.gov.uk/walsall-libraries/resources/247-online-library
The Mobile Library service timetable can be found here: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/walsall-libraries/our-libraries/mobile-library-services
About the Summer Reading Challenge
The Summer Reading Challenge is supported by the Reading Agency for children across the UK and is delivered in partnership with public libraries. It aims to inspire children to read over the holidays and make use of their local library throughout the summer and beyond.
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