Independent charity the Reading Agency is co-ordinating World Book Day activity in libraries, aiming to get every library authority involved in this major reading event.
As a key moment in the reading calendar, World Book Day will help to put libraries at centre stage, through offering a range of exciting activities and positive PR about libraries. This will show that libraries provide an irreplaceable hub for community reading experiences. We are also linking World Book Day with other key reading moments, such as the Summer Reading Challenge, calling for schools and libraries to encourage all children to take part in the Challenge after World Book Day.
World Book Day in Libraries
There are all sorts of exciting things that libraries can get involved with on World Book Day. There will be a library membership drive, with library joining forms included in the schools packs to nurseries, primary and secondary schools. Or you can download one here.
If you work in a library, you can:
- Stream The Biggest Book Show on Earth: an online festival, showcasing the cream of children’s publishing talent, on World Book Day – or watch it on-demand afterwards.
- Coming soon the World Book Day App, featuring exclusive short stories by bestselling authors Charlie Higson, Malorie Blackman, Anthony Horowitz, Sophie McKenzie and more, to enhance your work with young people.
- Use the momentum of World Book Day to showcase the new look library reading service. There will be World Book Day flagship library events around the country, and we’re hoping every single library will have something happening, even if that means simply badging existing children’s/family activity on Thursday 1 March. This way, everyone can host a World Book Day linked activity, without using extra capacity.
Working with Schools
Use World Book Day as an opportunity to build stronger partnerships with your local schools. Calls for schools to take the following actions have been included in the schools packs:
- Ensure that every single child is a member of their local library
- Encourage primary school children to do the Summer Reading Challenge, and secondary school students to volunteer at libraries to help younger children complete the Summer Reading Challenge
- Explore setting up a Chatterbooks reading group
Resources
Free World Book Day posters (one, two and three) have been sent to every library authority thanks to Bertrams and Askews and Holts. Not only can you use the World Book Day materials to promote the day itself, but you can harness the momentum of World Book Day to promote your library in general.
The World Book Day toolkit contains lots of information about World Book Day for libraries. There is also a PR toolkit, with press release templates, tips on how to get and maximize press coverage, and loads more. You can also download the Reading Agency’s Chatterpack to use with Chatterbooks groups.
