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This year’s Summer Reading Challenge will soon be upon us so get ready for Ready, Set, Read!
Cheshire East Libraries will be launching the annual children's Summer Reading Challenge across all libraries on the 8th of July 2023.
It's free to take part - just sign up at any Cheshire East library.
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The Summer Reading Challenge is a fun way for children between the ages of 4-12 years to stay engaged with reading over the summer holidays. There's even a mini challenge for the under 4s.
The aim of the challenge is to help prevent the dip in reading that can occur over the long summer holidays, as well as fostering a love of reading for pleasure.
Last summer, 5627 children took part in the Gadgeteers challenge and 545 joined the library as new members so they could join in.
This year we are celebrating the awesome power of play by encouraging children to keep their minds and bodies active over the summer through sport and reading.
Ready, Set, Read! is presented by The Reading Agency in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust and children are challenged to join the superstar team and their marvellous mascots and weave their way through a fictional obstacle course by borrowing and reading 6 library books over the summer.
There are super stickers to collect along the way (watch out as some are a bit smelly) and when they reach the finish line, they will be awarded with a champion’s medal and certificate.
Of course, we love to see children visiting our libraries, but if that's not possible they can take part online.
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Every child that completes the Summer Reading Challenge by Saturday 9th September will receive a medal and certificate.
Libraries hold award ceremonies in September, often with special guests presenting the awards, such as the Mayor of Macclesfield pictured above. Speak to your library about their arrangements.
This year, children who complete the challenge will also receive a free child swim voucher for use in Everybody Leisure swimming facilities, to tie into the sporting theme.
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Each summer we are joined by a small army of Summer Reading Challenge volunteers who help us sign up children and keep them motivated to complete the challenge. Last year, 116 volunteers took part across Cheshire East.
George started volunteering as part of his Duke of Edinburgh Award, helping enrol children on to the Summer Reading Challenge and later assisting with the Mini Makers after school club:
"I enjoy giving back to the community that I had been a part of since I was a young child. Through volunteering at the library, I am able to help more people take part in the activities I used to take part in growing up."
Beryl has been a Summer Reading Challenge volunteer since 2012:
"Encouraging the children, throughout the Challenge, to talk about what they have read and seeing their enthusiasm grow, makes involvement in this scheme feel really worthwhile."
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What you read is totally up to you!
There are plenty of stories to choose from at your local library – whether you like fiction books, graphic novels, or factual books!
If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out The Reading Agency’s recommended books for this year’s challenge! They have a range of titles that will keep all young readers busy this summer. Whether you follow the sporty theme or branch out to learn something new – you will find titles on this list for all different levels of readers.
Children can read independently, listen to an audiobook, or be read to by someone else. It all counts towards the challenge!
Want to use digital lending to complete the reading challenge? No problem! You can borrow eBooks or eAudiobooks from BorrowBox for free with your library card number. Click below to view our range of children’s eLending.
We even have magazines for kids and teens on Libby, full of fun facts and things to do.
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Look out for special Summer Reading Challenge themed events over the summer.
Last summer, we held 189 events 3373 children took part. We're looking forward to a busy summer again this year
We also hold lots of regular play and craft activities for children and families throughout the year.
Check your library's web page or Facebook for details of events.
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Sport, games, crafts and play can motivate children to improve their literacy skills.
Public libraries are trusted community spaces with a tradition of supporting literacy by providing reading resources for all ages and abilities, as well as space for informal family learning. We also offer opportunities to build digital skills and self-help collections that support mental and physical health.
Library events support learning and development from the early years through baby Bounce, Rhymetimes and Stories and Songs sessions. Older children enjoy LEGO, games clubs, STEM workshops, and crafts.
The power of combining sport and literacy has been acknowledged for some time.
The National Literacy Trust has a range of programmes for schools that use the excitement and passion surrounding sport to motivate and inspire young people to improve their literacy skills: Rugby Reading Champions; Premier League Reading Stars; Shooting Stars - and the FIFA Women's World Cup reading challenge for schools. They have over 15 years experience showing the huge impact sport can have on reading abilities, attitudes and attainment.
Footballer Marcus Rashford MBE has collaborated with Macmillan Children's Books to create the Marcus Rashford Book Club and get books to disadvantaged children.
At Crewe Lifestyle Centre the library and the leisure centre share the same building. A large number of people use both, particularly children having swimming lessons, either as a class or after school with parents. A great way to exercise mind and body with one visit.
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There are lots of benefits from summer reading. Research shows that when children read for pleasure it builds cognitive development, helps develop communication skills, promotes relaxation and wellbeing, and improves educational attainment.
The Summer Reading Challenge encourages a reading habit, and instils confidence and empathy. It stimulates creativity - but most of all... it's fun!
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If you’ve not already had your say, you have until 9 July to respond to Cheshire East Council’s consultation on proposals to reduce the current opening hours of libraries across the borough so that all sites are closed for at least 1.5 days during the week.
The consultation follows the approval of the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) in February, which includes proposals for how the council will balance its budget for the next four years.
The council must make essential savings so that it can fill a £20m gap in funding while continuing to provide essential frontline services and deliver on its ambitions and priorities.
The proposals being consulting on will ensure that you still have access to the fantastic and wide range of services available at your local library – alongside the wealth of online resources and services available digitally – but that the council can also make the necessary savings it must deliver to protect essential services.
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We hope to see you soon!
We always welcome feedback about our services. If you have enjoyed this newsletter or have any suggestions for improvement, please send us an email to libraries@cheshiresharedservices.gov.uk.
Alternatively pop into your local library and let the staff know. Thank you.
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