14/4/2008 - National Year of Reading starter for ten

Cumbria County Council is kicking off its National Year of Reading activities later this month with a challenge to all Cumbrians, to get reading.

The county council is encouraging people of all ages to take ten minutes out of their day to read something on Wednesday 23 April, at 10:00am.

Called ‘10 at 10’ the mass-read marks the start of National Year of Reading –a series of campaigns and activities designed to inspire everyone to read more, with a focus on reluctant readers, those with low confidence, and boys and dads.

People are being encouraged to read anything: from football programmes to blogs; and from newspapers to sports magazines. 

The county council has produced a special postcard for libraries, schools and workplaces around the county, which explains how people can get involved.

Libraries across Cumbria will be helping to promote the occasion and several special activities are planned for the day. Details on these will be announced by the county council nearer the time.

A total of 149 local reading coordinators in local authorities across England are working with local education, community, library and leisure services, businesses and the media to deliver National Year of Reading campaigns and activities for their local communities. 

Alan Welton is Cumbria County Council's Library Service manager and the county's National Year of Reading coordinator. He said: "We hope '10 at 10' will not only challenge people’s traditional perceptions of where and what they read, but also show that reading is an essential life skill which has never been more important.

"If people can't find the time at 10:00am to pick up a read, it doesn't matter: as long people set aside part of their day to just read.

"National Year of Reading is all about kick starting a change in the way we all view the written word and for us all to regain a love of reading and pass it on to the next generation."

ENDS

Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337

Apply Online to Cumbria Libraries

Follow this link to view the '10 at 10' postcard produced by Cumbria County Council.