01. Working WithWriters Toolkit
Do you need a Website?
Time To Read is fortunate enough to have its own website and was able to develop databases to support the Here & Now promotion. The two new areas Read and Write were developed.
Read is an area where books which reflect the North West region can be found. At the moment the database does not include any historical works- either fiction or non-fiction, though they could be included in the future. When new titles are added, the Time To Read co-ordinator alerts network members, so that they can look at them and consider whether or not they want to buy them
Write is where writers who live and work in the region can enter their own details. This is so that library staff who are planning activities, have a database of writers readily available, who they know are willing to work in libraries.
Currently there are no interactive facilities or message boards on the Time To Read website but future promotions may incorporate these features. An area where readers can comment on books read may be interesting, if it can be regularly moderated. The existence of a website- or the facility to link writers' own sites to a council website- was a definite plus for writers we got to know. They are generally looking for every opportunity to promote their work.
If your Library Service's own site doesn't have one already, you might be able to develop a specific Reading/Writing area locally, listing local writers and their work.
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.