Science proves children’s reading scheme engineered success in Shropshire
Young readers who signed-up to the Summer Reading Challenge through Shropshire libraries have engineered a successful outcome for the project.
Shropshire Council’s libraries service encouraged children aged from four to 11 to take part in the national Summer Reading Challenge called the Gadgeteers, which had a science and innovation theme.
In total 3,302 children in the county signed up to meet the Gadgeteers and rise to the reading challenge while also enjoying access to a range of free materials available from Shropshire’s libraries and online.
Events and activities based around the challenge attracted 3,789 visitors, and across the county a staggering 40,052 items were borrowed from libraries and online; and 508 children joined the library to take part.
Summer Reading Challenge 2022 infographic
Rob Gittins, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture and digital, said:-
“The numbers have been crunched and we can safely say the Gadgeteers have an engineered a hugely successful project.
“The Summer Reading Challenge really captured the imagination of our young readers, and with more than 500 new library members signed up as a result they were clearly excited by and engaged with what was going on at our libraries throughout the holidays.
“The digital element of the challenge allowed children with limited physical access to the library to take part; and as all the resources were free to access. Hopefully it also helped people ease the financial burden of providing entertainment over the summer.”
The Summer Reading Challenge actively engaged 921 children in Shropshire HAF settings too.
Kirstie Hurst-Knight, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for children and education, added:-
“The Summer Reading Challenge has been a fantastic inspiration to children across the county and bringing it direct to children through the Shropshire HAF settings was a new approach.
“Our libraries offer limitless entertainment for people of all ages and so many resources are available free of charge both in person and digitally. They are a fantastic resource and I am pleased to hear that hundreds of children have been encouraged to sign up for what’s on offer.”
The Summer Reading Challenge reaches over 700,000 children across the UK each year in partnership with public libraries.
The Gadgeteers saw six fictional characters, brought to life by children’s writer and illustrator Julian Beresford, use their curiosity and wonder to understand the science behind a whole range of interests, from fashion and technology to cooking and music.
To find out more about Shropshire Council’s libraries service visit: Libraries | Shropshire Council and to learn about the Shropshire HAF programme see: Shropshire HAF Activities
