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.

Questseekers Core Materials

Further information will soon be available about materials for Questseekers.

Questseekers Incentives

Further information will soon be available about incentives for Questseekers.

Questseekers Display materials

Further information will soon be available about display materials for Questseekers.

Questseekers Book Collections

Further information will soon be available about book collections for Questseekers.

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.

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