Perfect Places
Promotion dates : 4 Oct 2012 to 30 Nov 2012
Your library-your perfect place for poetry
Perfect Places is a promotion of poetry running in North West Public Libraries during autumn 2012.
Perfect Places aims to enthuse you about poetry and to urge you to borrow and read more poetry. 12 poems inspired by the NW region and written by poets living and working in the NW, have been selected for the promotion. A set of highly visual posters will reach all sorts of venues including schools, public venues and waiting spaces, drawing attention to individual poems. At the same time libraries will display specially purchased poetry books and host events with the chosen poets. The purpose of the whole package is to bring poetry from the region to a wider audience and encourage more reading of poetry.
Perfect Places is timed to coincide with National Poetry Day on 4th October and will continue throughout October and November.
The poets chosen for Perfect Places represent a wide range of poetic voices from the region and the set includes both published and previously unpublished poems. The poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy has contributed a poem from her recent collection The Bees . Other poets may be less well known but all work energetically to bring poetry to the attention of audiences and readers.
All the poems can be seen and read here. Most of them also have podcasts attached so that you can hear the poet reading their own poem.
Use the following link to access a Google map which places the poets geographically.
This text is a link to a page on Google Maps.
Reading Rewards
Promotion dates : 1 Jun 2012 to 31 Oct 2012

Reading Rewards Winners
Reading Rewards was an adult reading challenge running in North West Public Libraries from 1st June - 31st October. By offering rewards for reading 3, 6 or 10 books Time To Read hopes that adults will enjoy being challenged to read something different this year.
Reading Rewards aimed to encourage you to read more and read more widely and in particular set an inspiring example to children. By being seen to enjoy reading for themselves, parents, carers and older siblings in this region have extra opportunities to be rewarded for reading.
Reading Rewards set all readers the challenge of reading up to 10 books from different categories. Participants will be entered into prize draws at 3 different stages to win shopping vouchers provided by Time To Read.
We can now announce the Reading Rewards winners!
The following list includes the winners from each authority and, where available, the library they use.
Regional Gold Winner: Mrs C Davidson from Cheshire East Libraries
Blackburn:
- Bronze - Annette Dawson
- Silver - Mrs P Edwards
- Gold - Laura Heywood
Blackpool:
- Bronze - Mrs Pauline Holland - Layton Library
- Silver - Louise Jenkinson - Central Library
- Gold - Christine Kinley - Palatine Library
Bolton:
- Bronze - Miss Usha Gohil
- Silver - Lee Hemmings
- Gold - Anthony John Bisley
Bury:
- Bronze - Mrs E Wilson.
- Silver - Helen Whelan
- Gold - Sheila Morris.
Chesh East:
- Bronze - J. E. Downie - Knutsford Library
- Silver - Marilyn Walton - Nantwich Library
- Gold - Mrs. E. Smallwood - Wilmslow Library
Chesh West:
- Bronze - Rachel Sizer - Helsby Library
- Silver - Evelyn Hill - Malpas Library
- Gold - June Hindley - Northwich Library
Cumbria:
- Bronze - Lynda Donaldson
- Silver - Clare Woowat
- Gold - Valerie Clafton
Halton:
- Bronze - Nicola Donoghue
- Silver - Beatrice Beech
- Gold - Miss E Stokes
Knowsley:
- Bronze - Mr M Ashcroft
- Silver - Mr E Stephenson
- Gold - Mrs P Broadfoot
Lancs:
- Bronze - Helen Crowder - Great Harwood Library
- Silver - Miss Lesley Wilding - Skelmersdale Library
- Gold - Helen Sandelands - Skelmersdale Library
Liverpool: To be confirmed
Manchester:
- Bronze - Nancy Lowe - Avenue Library
- Silver - Alexis Collins - Withington
- Gold - Racheal Chappell - Brooklands
Oldham:
- Bronze - Mr Geoffrey Preston
- Silver - Sheila Dunkerley
- Gold - Margaret Miles
Rochdale:
- Bronze - Paul Young
- Silver - Alan Eastwood
- Gold - Janet Mason
Salford:
- Gold - Kelly Dixon - Clifton Library
- Silver - Rachael Harris - Broughton Library
- Bronze - Sarah Royde - Brougton Library
Sefton:
- Bronze - Mrs I V Thoms - College Road Library
- Silver - Clair Vaughan - Aintree Library
- Gold - Pamela Dixon - Churchtown Library
Stockport:
- Bronze - Mrs Lynda Ormrod
- Silver - Mrs Dorothy Starkie
- Gold - Mrs Natalie Bodley
Tameside:
- Bronze - Mrs S. Hadfield - Denton Library
- Silver - Julie Hatton - Tameside Central Library
- Gold - Barry Duck - Droylsden Library
Trafford:
- Bronze - John Leicester - Sale Library
- Silver - Katie Wilson - Coppice Library
- Gold - Baden Bishton - Altrincham Library
Warrington:
- Bronze - Kim Michelle Gandy
- Silver - Adrian Robbins
- Gold - Sheila Shaw
Wirral:
- Bronze - Helen Cleary
- Silver - Mandy White
- Gold - Stacey Cowell
Here and Now: New NW Writing in NW Libraries
Promotion dates : 9 Jan 2012 to 29 Feb 2012
Time To Read believes in offering as much support to writers based in the region as we can. We do this by encouraging the purchase of books we are aware of and displaying them in our libraries, by encouraging readers to read them and by bringing authors in to talk to audiences. After all, the best advocates for specific books should be the people who have written them.
In 2005 Time To Read ran a successful promotion called Here & Now: the best North West writing in North West libraries. Through this, many NW library staff met NW writers for the first time at specially arranged networking events. These links have been built on strongly, so that writers and publishers in the region now feel much more linked up with their local library services. This has recently been partly demonstrated by Bluemoose editor Kevin Duffy in a Guardian Books blog:
A pot of money given to Time To Read recently by SCL NW (Society of Chief Librarians) has been spent on new titles (published in 2010 & 2011) from a number of the region’s writers. Sets of books have been bought so that some reading groups have the opportunity to read titles which they may not have found otherwise. A list of these titles is available on this site.
In addition to buying the books, most of these writers, as well as a few additional ones, have been invited to appear in libraries to talk about their work. Most of these appearances will take place at the end of January and beginning of February 2012 (weather permitting) to coincide with National Libraries Day. This is a focal point for libraries to demonstrate the sorts of activity people can experience with their local library service.
Heeding the old adage "if it ain’t broke" we are using the same branding as in our previous promotion, just altering the wording slightly to Here & Now: NEW NW writing in NW libraries. If you haven’t read them already, Time To Read hopes that you will all find something on this list to enjoy.
Reading Places
Promotion dates : 9 May 2011 to 14 Dec 2011

Travelling is something we can all do. Whether to far flung places across the oceans, to the highest mountain tops or remotest rain forest or much more locally to our nearest seaside or woodland walk. Perhaps we only travel to work or to imagined worlds in our sleeping or waking dreams. Wherever and however we journey, there are books to inspire and take with us.
Through Reading Places we will be promoting travel writing of all sorts. Travel writing is broad genre which includes memoirs and accounts from intrepid "professional" travellers, as well as practical advice for first-time backpackers. Travel guides exist in quantity and libraries have long been used as a source for these, as well as for maps and other information sources. In Reading Places we will also promote fiction inspired by travels; novels which strongly evoke the sights, smells, sounds of other places.
Anywhere can be a Reading Place and books are an ideal companion while travelling. We’d like you to tell us where you have a taken a book to this year. On this website you will find plenty of reading ideas. To let us know that you have discovered Reading Places we would like you to send a postcard back to your local library or a digital photograph to Time To Read, telling us where you have been to with a library book. If you return a card or a photo to us before October 31st you will be entered into a prize draw. (Prizes remain to be confirmed).
The Literary Landmarks map shows a small selection of places linked to significant writers with some connection to our region. We particularly want to collect photographs of the Literary Landmarks highlighted on our map, so if you go nowhere else this year, why not try and find one of these locations and send us a digital image.
Libraries across the North West will also be organising events and activities with a Travel theme. Look out in your library, on this website or on Facebook for more news of these.
Pages Ago and Flashback Fiction
Promotion dates : 19 May 2010 to 31 Mar 2011

The Flashback Fiction Competition
Over 250 people from across the whole of the region entered the short story competition. Each local authority that is a partner in Time To Read picked local winners and these should have all been notified by now.
Their stories were then sent off to our judge, the writer Patricia Duncker, who chose a regional winner and runner-up in both age groups. Their names are announced here and you can read the winning stories by following this link
Regional Winner 1st Prize - Joyce Reed from Stockport
Runner up - Christine Evans from Oldham
Under 16 1st Prize - Joel Davies from Warrington
Runner up - Josh Degenhardt from Manchester
There were far fewer entries in the under 16 age group so not every local authority had a winner in this age group
Blackburn
Over 16 - Amanda Cave
Blackpool
Over 16 - David Riley
Under 16 - Jacki Draycott
Bolton
Over 16 – Scott MacDowall
Bury
Over 16 – Suzanne Kirby
Cheshire East
Over 16 - Sally Lowden
Under 16 - Harry Green
Cheshire West and Chester
Over 16 - Joanna Winchcombe.
Under 16 - Jack Hughes
Cumbria
Over 16 - Alex Mullarky
Under 16 - Lydia Moraitis
Halton
Over 16 - Annie Marsh
Knowsley
Over 16 - Malcolm Carter
Lancashire
Over 16 - Linda Parkins
Liverpool
Over 16 - Ami Weir
Under 16 - Lauren Douglas
Manchester
Over 16 - Katherine Reed
Under 16 - Josh Degenhardt
Oldham
Over 16 - Christine Evans
Rochdale
Over 16 – Vivien McCord
Salford
Over 16 - Kim Hutson
Sefton
Over 16 - Shiela Riley
Stockport
Over 16 - Joyce Reed
Tameside
Over 16 - Jo Fallon
Trafford
Over 16 - Margaret Donohue
Warrington
Over 16 - Megan Blair
Under 16 - Joel Davies
Wigan
Over 16 - Anne Moores
Wirral
Over 16 - Alexander Jacques
Under 16 - Isobel Wilton
Congratulations to all the winners and many thanks to everyone who entered.
Judges comment: I hope you enjoy the stories I chose. In the adult section I chose two pieces that used voices, or a single voice. Short forms need to work like poetry on the page in that every word needs to count. Redundancy, padding and irrelevant material that is there only to set the scene or ‘create atmosphere’ will not be effective. The form should be unsettling, direct, tight. In this particular competition one of the crucial questions is: how much does the writer expect the reader to know?
Pages Ago is a promotion of history reading which is running in North West Libraries during 2010. History reaches into all genres of writing and the fact that a huge historical novel, Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, won the Man Booker Prize in 2009 is testimony to the fact that historical fiction is now taken more seriously than it used to be.
Why not try some for yourself?
What we have done to tempt you is try to pair up fiction with non-fiction. So if you have really enjoyed a novel set in a certain historic period, you may wish to further your interest by reading some non-fiction on the same subject. Or may be you are one of those readers who says they only ever read true fact? You might be surprised by some of the historical fiction out there which has been meticulously researched, by writers who are passionate about history.
Perhaps you can find some interesting pairings of your own, with the help of library staff, and tell us about them on the Time To Read blog.
This list of historical reading is just a starting point. Libraries have lots of other historical titles available and will be promoting them during 2010. Pages Ago will also include events such as author visits, talks, readers’ days, writing workshops and other special activities to inspire adults and families to read about history. Use the link to your local authority website to find out what is happening near you.

NOW That’s What I Call READING
Promotion dates : 18 May 2009 to 18 May 2010

Time To Read wants people to try making a reading choice in the same way they choose what music to listen to. So, working on the theory that people who generally like cheery pop music such as Girls Aloud, Take That, and Sugababes, might be people who are interested in fashion, fun, romance and keeping fit. This might lead them naturally to enjoying books such as Chick Lit, celebrity biographies, romance titles and cheerful bestsellers.
Similarly people who like more moody music such as Radiohead, Coldplay , The Smiths or Elbow might be people who like books which express a dark, sexy, cinematic or bleak mood. We think books such as Love on the Dole by Walter Greenwood or The Road by Cormac McCarthy might suit them, along with titles by writers such as Raymond Chandler, Walter Mosley, Haruki Murakami or Neil Gaiman
Obviously people like different music and different reading experiences at different times, sometimes even on the same day. We really don’t want to categorise people or limit choices in anyway. We just think its interesting to think about the tone that many books have and try to match that to music, which people often seem to find easier to be decided about.
Time To Read has put together some shortlists of titles matched against groups of bands and musicians. These can be found on the Facebook ® page:
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The lists are only short and will change from time to time. We really want as many people as possible to make their own suggestions and connections on the Discussion Board.
Over the course of the next few months (May-Dec 09) many libraries will be displaying some of the books mentioned in this promotion as well as adding further selections, in special NOW that’s what I call READING displays. These displays will also be advertised on Facebook as well as on our Events link.
2008 Year Of Reading
Promotion dates : 1 Apr 2008 to 30 Sep 2008
Everything Starts With Reading
The slogan for The National Year of Reading 2008 reminds us of the crucial importance of reading for day to day living. Without reading everything is harder; getting a job, learning to drive, opening a bank account, using a computer, the list could go on and on. In addition, those who find reading difficult may never discover the joy of reading for pleasure. Can you imagine never going to a warm bed early with a good book, or passing away the hours of a train or plane journey with an adventure or tale of romance or intrigue.? I certainly can’t.
The government has declared that 2008 should be a National Year of Reading and libraries have a central part to play in this, not only as the major provider of free books for all ages but also as a key partner for many organisations engaged in the teaching of reading skills.
Here in the North West, public libraries have always worked hard to encourage people to use their services for enjoying reading, for reading more, and widening the range of books they might choose to read. This year we will be trying even harder to encourage more people to use our services, to participate in special events and activities, and maybe to develop a reading habit.
On this website you will find events that are being organised as part of the year on our Events pages, as well as some reading ideas., which will be added to as the year progresses.
For more information about the National Year of Reading please visit : www.yearofreading.org.uk
Pure Passion
Promotion dates : 16 Apr 2007 to 29 Feb 2008
Pure Passion is a promotion of Romantic Fiction co-ordinated by the North West Libraries’ Reader Development partnership Time To Read in partnership with the Romantic Novelists Association and sponsored by Bertrams Books.
Voting for your favourite Pure Passion title has now ended. We hope you took the opportunity to take part and have read some enjoyable books. The results will be announced at an award ceremony on February 21st 2008 (see Events for more details).
You may continue to leave comments about any of the titles listed.

Librarians in the North West have pioneered partnership working to encourage new readers into libraries. Time To Read is a partnership of librarians engaged in reader development activity in public library authorities in the North West Region. All 23 public library authorities in the region currently support Time To Read.