Summer Reading Challenge Launched

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge has been launched.

The challenge has the theme Animal Agents and will see children turning detective to solve all kinds of mysteries and puzzles over the school summer holidays.

Dozens of youngsters and their families attended the official launch of the challenge, which is run by our libraries with The Reading Agency.

Derbyshire County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Culture and Tourism Councillor Barry Lewis attended the launch at Chesterfield Library with Vice-Chairman Councillor George Wharmby.

Councillor Lewis said:

“The launch was a great success and children are clearly enthusiastic about taking part in the challenge. We know that reading for fun improves children’s development and helps overall with their education. It’s a great way to ensure reading skills don’t drop off over the long summer break which is a real benefit to all taking part.

“It also helps to instil a life-long love of books and underlines the value of libraries.”

Children signing up to the challenge will be encouraged to read up to six books over the summer break which will help to maintain their literacy skills, with the Animal Agents theme specifically designed to be fun and exciting.

In Derbyshire more than 9,300 children signed up last year, borrowing more than 227,000 children’s library items, with more than 3,200 children taking part in Summer Reading Challenge activities held in our 45 libraries.

Belper Library, on Bridge Street, is open throughout the holidays from

Monday: 9am to 5pm 
Tuesday: 9am to 7pm
Wednesday: 9am to 5pm
Thursday: 9am to 7pm
Friday: 9am to 5pm
Saturday: 9am to 4pm

The challenge runs until 9 September 2017 and children can sign up to become an agent at any of their libraries.

When they have read six books of their choice they get a medal and certificate to mark their achievement.

you can find out more about the Summer Reading Challenge here.