Summer reading challenge a huge success

This year’s Summer Reading Challenge is more popular than ever, with over 960 local children are taking part.

A national event, the Challenge, which takes place every year during the summer holidays, is run by the charity The Reading Agency – the aim of the initiative is to help children maintain literacy levels whilst they are away from school during the long summer holiday period, as well as to make friends and show that reading is fun.

Before the end of the summer, Macclesfield Library, which is the Challenge’s local hub, hopes to have reached 1,000 children and local MP David Rutley, met up with attendees during a recent visit to Macclesfield Library

David is a long-standing supporter of the Summer Reading Challenge. He saw where children sign up to take part in the Challenge and receive their reading packs; the desk is manned by some of the Library’s young volunteers. He also spoke with some of the children who have taken up the Challenge, and their parents, and heard how much they are enjoying the books that they are reading.

Children and young people are encouraged to sign up at their local library, and then to read six library books of their choice to complete the Challenge. Participation is free and children will also receive an album and six sets of colourful stickers as they make their way through their books – and a certificate and medal on completion of the challenge.

Every year’s Summer Reading Challenge has a different theme, based on a series of children’s books. This year’s is ‘Animal Agents’, featuring a detective agency staffed by bears, rabbits, dogs and snakes, that work together to solve mysteries – with some help from the reader. Each time a participating child visits Macclesfield Library, they can discover new clues and evidence that will help them to solve the Animal Agents’ cryptic cases.

Earlier this year, Macclesfield Library underwent an exciting refurbishment and, on his visit, David was pleased to have the opportunity to see the new and more accessible IT suite on the first floor, and the new Local Studies area on the ground floor. Macclesfield Library is already the busiest in the north-west, with 15,000 members and more than 54,000 books. These facilities will help the Library to retain its important place in the community.

Speaking after the event, David said, “It is very positive to see that so many local young people have taken up the Summer Reading Challenge this year. My thanks go to all the staff and volunteers at Macclesfield Library for the work that they do to support this excellent initiative. I was also pleased to hear about the great progress that the Library has been making since its refurbishment, and to see its new facilities. Whatever the time of year, there is always something happening at Macclesfield Library, and I would encourage local residents to continue making the most of this important community asset.”