Promoting your Summer Reading Challenge

This section describes tools which are available for you to promote the Summer Reading Challenge in libraries, in schools, in the local community and with other services and organisations working with children. It also gives you some ideas for promotion.

Tools & ideas for promoting the Challenge

The SRC materials include invitations that you can buy to send out en masse to children throughout the authority.  Often the library authority will send invitations, letters and advocacy brochures to all the primary schools in the LEA, with visits booked to talk to children in assemblies for as many schools as possible.

'Using the Education Dept's electronic "black bag" circular made sure that publicity reached all schools.'  Worcestershire Libraries

'Visiting school assemblies to promote was very productive as 57% who joined the challenge had found out through school'  Newport Libraries

For up to date information about publicity materials for this year's Summer Reading Challenge, visit The Reading Agency website

Ideas for promoting the Challenge

• Flag up the Challenge on your library website -  animated graphics look great if you can get someone to create them.
• Make sure the Challenge is featured in all the local ‘what’s on’ listings for the summer
• Send out a press release and details to all the local media.  Local radio might be interested in tracking children’s progress during the summer. Local newspapers might like to feature children’s reviews of their favourite books. You can download this template press release (Word, 169kb)
• Some library authorities have printed bus stop/hoarding size posters to feature in shopping centres etc.

Promote the Challenge to:

• Schools
• After-school clubs
• Play schemes
• Literacy groups
• Special schools
• Surestart centres
• Brownies/Cubs
• Leisure services
• Children's Trusts
• Extended schools partnerships

There will be many other groups you can identify in your own local authority

The next section gives you practical guidelines for putting the Challenge in place and then running it through the summer.