Running your Summer Reading Challenge

To run the Challenge effectively you need to know

• what the materials are
• how to administer the Challenge and prepare the library
• how to support children’s reading development during the summer
• how to collect the information required for evaluation.

Summer Reading Challenge Materials

A designated contact in each library authority has the responsibility for deciding which materials to buy in, and in what quantities.

The Team Read Core Materials

The Membership Card

• Agree a stamp or signature for ticking off numbers of books read

The Fold-Out Poster

• Hand out the poster for children to take home
• 3 stages - bronze, silver and gold
• Each stage = 1 sheet of stickers
• Sheets of stickers can be separated to make 6 individual sheets if preferred
• Medal stickers to go on the folder to complete each stage

The Certificate

• For those who complete the challenge OR
• For everyone who takes part (worded to cover both)

The Medal

• Check with trading standards over giving out medals with ribbon
• Not all authorities buy medals - some libraries decide on other rewards for completion of the Challenge such as vouchers for free DVD/CD loans

Team Read Incentives

• Pens
• Promotional stickers
• Sports ball post-its (for book recommendations or to put on wall display to chart progress)
• Kit bags
• Mr Stretch
• Reading Challenge activity sheets

Team Read Display materials

• Posters
• Banners
• Events posters
• Graphics files of logos/characters (available on the SRC Resources CD)
• Wall display
• Team Read character hunt (characters are included with wall display, competition sheet for children available as pdf - available on the SRC Resources CD)

Team Read Book Collections

• Two collections in special Team Read display bins, one for younger children (4-7) and one for older (8-12)
• Around 50 titles in each collection
• Chosen by a panel of children's librarians and specialists
• Also selected by a focus group of children and parents - library users
• Popular 'summer reads' selected to appeal to all abilities and interests, some linked to the theme of the Challenge

Administering the Challenge: Key Tasks

• Registering children – this will give you the information needed for evaluation
• Explaining how many visits required/books per visit for children to complete the Challenge
• There is no standard approach for the Summer Reading Challenge – You can implement the Summer Reading Challenge in the way which works best for your service to achieve your outcomes and targets.
• Have a look at How to Take Part in Team Read. See if you want to run the Challenge in this way, or if you want to adapt it.

Library set up - the main things you will need for the Challenge to run well are:

• Joining area
• Activities area/book sharing area
• Wall display
• Computers available for young people to visit the SRC website – use PC Wobblers or tent cards (on Resources CD) to flag up the address.
• Have a notebook at the counter to jot down any feedback from children and parents, and also any observations of the impact of the Challenge - this will provide you with valuable qualitative data.

Preparing for Evaluation of the Challenge: Practical Tasks

• Record the information required for the national evaluation questionnaire
• Use Comments forms: forms for parents/carers and general comments forms are on the SRC Resources CD

In the next section you will find lots of reader development ideas for using the Challenge to encourage wider reading