This weekend, we are launching our Summer Book Giveaway 2024 – a city-wide game of literacy hide-and-seek.
Running from Saturday 27 July - Saturday 31 August, 2,000 vouchers will be hidden across the city for children to find and exchange for a free book at their local library. This fun-filled holiday activity aims to get families outdoors and excited about books. Families can take the voucher to their local Nottingham City Library to exchange for one free book per child to take home.
Vouchers can be found anywhere across the city – from bus stops, playgrounds and Nottingham Beach to local community centres and children’s events – so families are encouraged to get out and about with their eyes peeled. Once found, the vouchers can be exchanged at one of thirteen participating local libraries. These include:
- Basford Library
- Bilborough Library
- Bulwell Riverside Library
- Clifton Library
- Dales Centre Library
- Hyson Green Library – Mary Potter Centre
- Nottingham Central Library
- Radford-Lenton Library
- Southglade Park Library
- St Ann’s Valley Library
- Strelley Road Library
- The Meadows Library
- Wollaton Library
Run in partnership with Nottingham City Libraries, each local library will be stocked with books we have gifted perfect for children aged 0-16. There will be a range of titles for children to choose from and one free book per child. These books could be used to kick start their entry to the Summer Reading Challenge.
Turning literacy into an interactive city-wide game is not only brilliant fun, but an important initiative to engage children with reading. Our recent research found over half of children across the UK don’t enjoy reading, while in the East Midlands, 1 in 12 children and young people aged 8 to 18 say they do not have a book of their own at home – that is around three children in every classroom across Nottingham. By encouraging families to visit the libraries to claim their free book, this initiative also promotes library membership sign-ups and future visits for lifelong access to free books.
“It’s so exciting to be running the Summer Book Giveaway again to get local children and families feeling a buzz about books. We know how important it is that children develop positive reading experiences to encourage a life-long love of books. Last year a librarian at Bulwell Riverside Library told me that a grandmother was dragged to the library by her excited grandson when he found a voucher in a bus shelter – she then signed up to become a library member. That’s the kind of excitement we want to create around literacy!”
Charlotte Malik, Manager for National Literacy Trust in Nottingham
The National Literacy Trust in Nottingham works across the city to inspire children to enjoy reading and encourage parents to support their children’s reading engagement all year round. Families can follow Facebook.com/NottinghamLiteracyTrust for more information and updates.
