TIME TO READ

Time For A Change Toolkit

WHAT IS READER DEVELOPMENT?

Reading or Reader Development is "the term used for ongoing work which ensures that libraries continuously find ways to encourage more people to read, that the widest possible range of reading material to suit all ages and abilities is available, and that encourages people to find reading a shared and creative experience. Reader Development embodies an approach to library service which places the reader at the centre of activity."

(Thebridge, Train and Dalton 2001).

Tom Forrest the former Chair of the Branching Out [4] initiative amplifies further: "[it] is audience development for literature. It sells the reading experience and what it can do for you, rather than selling individual books or writers. It builds the audience for literature by moving readers beyond brand loyalty to individual writers. Helping them develop the confidence to try something new."

(Forrest, 2001)

To support the work of library services in this area, a number of key agencies have been established to provide staff training, develop new projects, secure new funding and carry out key marketing and advocacy roles:

Opening the Book [5]

Is a company which has worked strategically in partnership with libraries, publishers, booksellers, arts organisations and the media to embed reader development principles and practice in the work of libraries since 1990.It took an early lead in driving the reader development movement forward.

The Reading Agency [6]

Was formed from 3 existing agencies LaunchPad, The Reading Partnership and Well Worth Reading in 2002. It works closely with librarians networking bodies, brokers new partnerships, and provides training and research among its varied range of activity.

The National Reading Campaign [7]

Based in the National Literacy Trust continues to build on the momentum created by the National Year of Reading (September 1998 - August 1999) through its information and networking role for reading practitioners, alongside a series of national promotions targeted at different audiences.

Time To Read [8]

North West England's regional partnership of reader development practitioners grew from an informal group of nine librarians and literature development workers, brought together for an inspirational training course led by Rachel Van Riel of Opening the Book, in 1995/6. Following the training some members of the group felt it would be productive to remain in contact, as a means of mutual support and information exchange.

Gradually word spread and helped by further training in the North West region of England, the partnership grew. It now includes representatives from all 22 library authorities in the region as well as other organisations such as The National Library for the Blind.

The principal aims of the Time to Read Partnership are:

Information exchange and networking
Producing joint publications and promotional materials
Organising training in the region
Attracting funding to deliver new initiatives

Following some successful joint working up to and during the National Year of Reading (1998/9) chief library officers in the region encouraged Time To Read to make a regional bid to the DCMS/Wolfson fund during 2000 for reader development initiatives. The bid was successful and the award for the Reading Lifelines project was the largest award made, and the only award to a regional consortium.

Reading Lifelines and the follow on project Everybody's Reading, aimed to reach socially excluded 16-25 year olds- more detail about these projects is given below. An age group was picked as the focus of the projects so that the work could be relevant to all authorities in the region. The intention was to enable as many authorities as possible in the region to benefit from the new funding. 18 authorities agreed to make up a consortium of partners in the bid and to contribute some match funding. Once the consortium had been agreed a steering group of 4 was established to work up the details of the project and write the funding bid.