Still time to take up the Challenge
The Record Breakers Summer Reading Challenge is well under way, but there is still time for children throughout the borough to sign up and join in the fun.
This year’s record breakers themed Summer Reading Challenge was launched on 11 July at Southwater Library with a record breaking attempt in conjunction with libraries all over the UK.
More than 1,000 children are already signed up to the Challenge, just two weeks in to this year’s long summer holiday, so there is still plenty of time to get involved.
Any child in the borough aged between 4 and 11 can sign up.
Children signing up to the Challenge receive a poster which can be added to as stickers are collected for each book borrowed, finding out fascinating facts about record breakers as they go.
To complete the Challenge and collect all the stickers, six books need to be borrowed during the school holidays from any Telford & Wrekin Library.
Councillor Angela McClements, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for Libraries, said: “The Summer Reading Challenge is a fantastic way to keep children reading throughout the long summer holidays in a fun and interactive way.
“It can also improve children’s reading range, as well as their motivation and confidence.
“And there is more than just the Record Breakers Summer Reading Challenge going on at the libraries, so by going along and signing up, children might just find some other great activities to get involved with this summer.”
The record attempt on the launch day, which was to get the most number of pledges of support received for a reading campaign, saw an enormous response across the UK with almost 80,000 pledges received.
Though falling a little short of the record the numbers flocking to libraries to pledge, sign up to the Challenge and enjoy their local services was phenomenal.
In Southwater One, magician Barrington Powell, entertained everyone at the launch in Telford, which was attended and enjoyed by many families.
Speaking of the record breaking attempt which took place, Guinness World Records Editor in Chief, Craig Glenday, said: “It was fantastic to see so many people of all ages come together to launch the Record Breakers Summer Reading Challenge; to see so many excited faces and so many new people going to the library as a result.
“Books have always been at the heart of everything we do, and we’re thrilled to be able to support an initiative that gets kids into libraries and picking up books.”
To find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge and find out what other events and activities are taking place during the holidays and beyond contact your local library or visit www.telford.gov.uk/libraries
