2008: National Year of Reading

There's lots going on as libraries prepare for the National Year of Reading,  which  was officially launched at Downing Street on 8 January by the Prime Minister and Ed Balls, Secretary of State of Children, Schools and Families. 

The year gets under way in April with the first ever national ‘join your library’ campaign. The campaign will be one of only two national campaigns supported by NYR so it is a unique opportunity for public libraries to exploit national media attention.

Key elements of the campaign are:

• An agreed national joining procedure
• A media campaign with a joining form in a national newspaper
• A two week radio campaign
• National ‘welcome to your library’ packs, one for adults and one for children, which highlight library reading offers and will complement services’ own membership packs.  They are A5 walleted folders with inserts – services will be able to add local information. In addition 250,000 copies of a NYR branded guide to children and young people’s  reading has been produced in partnership with A & C Black  and will be distributed to you to give away free to new members.
• Training and support for front line staff 

This membership campaign will be launched during the last weekend in April.

The interim NYR website is now up and running at www.yearofreading.org.uk  

At the moment, it mainly acts as an information channel but it is hoped to have the full interactive site up in March.  Visit the site, register for regular mailings, download the logo and start to add your events to the calendar.

And make the most of all the resources on the TRF site

• to help with your training in preparation for the year
• to support the planning and running of all your NYR activities

We'll be showcasing on the TRF site news throughout the year about libraries' NYR activities with children and young people.  Send us your pictures and stories by using the TRF Submit Content facility.