Readers For Life II - 2008-2011 Toolkit
4. The Strategy
This revised strategy assumes that the core principles of reader development as originally defined by Opening the Book (see footnote 1) are now well understood:
- Increasing people's confidence and enjoyment of reading
- Opening up reading choices
- Offering opportunities to people to share their reading experience
- Raising the status of reading as a creative activity
Reader development continues to be concerned with all activity delivering these principles. It remains centrally concerned with promoting and supporting reading for pleasure and developing the creative reading offer. Allowing access to a wide range of free reading material remains the core function of public libraries and enabling people to browse, choose and borrow in accessible, attractive and supportive libraries is a primary aim of those delivering library services.
With the additional over-arching principles of accessibility and diversity, this revised Readers For Life strategy does not attempt to address all aspects of reader development activity. Instead it presents a limited number of actions, which have been agreed regionally and will be achieved locally. These actions should have precise targets. The intention behind adopting a limited number of actions, whose impact can be measured, is to provide an achievable clear demonstration of the impact reader development can have on readers and local communities.
While activity is delivered locally, the value of Time To Read in supporting this activity remains significant. Time To Read is principally concerned with advocacy, networking, training & professional development, consultation & sharing best practice, fundraising and co-ordination of regional initiatives. Clearly by delivering in these areas, Time To Read adds value to all local activity. It enables reader development work to be more closely planned, monitored and evaluated than in other regions. Additional funding is raised for some activity, and more consultation, information, advice and support is continuously available through the network participants and from its co-ordinator. By working in partnership, to an agreed co-ordinated strategy, North West Libraries are able to present themselves professionally and cohesively.
Time To Read is a vital link in the North West region, for the Arts Council's Literature Department and The Reading Agency, who are working together to set a new agenda for creative reading, developing a Creative Reading Manifesto. This will articulate the role of public libraries in promoting the links between reading and creativity more clearly.
Time To Read will support all the activity below and will build on the legacy of National Year of Reading (NYR) specifically by:
- Developing at least one adult reader centred promotion per year to be used across the region
- Advocating and promoting the use of public libraries through reader development activities
- Showcasing the region's best practice through websites, publications, conferences and networking events
- Co-ordinating training which supports the delivery of prioritised actions
- Will monitor, evaluate and report regularly on adult reader development activity in the region
- Will represent NW adult reader development activity at partner meetings and on national steering groups
- Identify and obtain external funding to add value to local activity
- Be sensitive to developing political and cultural agendas which inform priorities, particularly the recently announced Modernisation Review (see footnote 2) , and align TTR plans accordingly
Host a conference in Liverpool in Spring 2009 on 'creative reading', which will build on the legacy of NYR, Liverpool 08 and working towards the Cultural Olympiad 2012
Adopting specific actions and targets, does not mean that other reader development activity can cease. Library Service Managers need to continue to invest resources in reader development activity. New opportunities and priorities will inevitably arise over the course of 3 years. Significant cultural priorities such as the Cultural Oympiad will need to be worked with. However the actions below represent some key priorities which will enable Library Services and their reader development practitioners to demonstrate quantified contributions to delivering on Local authority agendas.
(1) - Opening the Book Ltd www.openingthebook.com
(2) - Public Libraries Modernisation Review announced at the Public Libraries Conference, October 08.
