The initial Reading Development Activity survey in the South East carried out in September 2005 was designed to give an overview of reader development activity across South East Library Authorities. A 100% response rate was received.
The findings from the survey have fed into the Regional Reading Development Strategy and Action Plan, which is currently undergoing consultation.
The original survey was updated in January 2006. All 19 South East Library Authorities were invited to make amendments and updates. In addition all authorities were asked to clarify the number of reader development posts in their authority or to specify which jobs included reader development posts, and an indication of hours per week dedicated to Reader Development.
The survey document which is available to download from the right of the screen, therefore, incorporates all answers from the September 2005 Survey of Reading Development Activity, in addition to any amendments made in January 2006.
The summary is to be read alongside "Reading Development in the South East: Examples of Good Practice" and an overall findings report is also available.
A full review and audit of reading development activity for the year 06/07 will be conducted in April 2007 to coincide with the financial year, and each year at the same time thereafter.
Key facts about reading development activity in South East Libraries
- 52.6% of SE Libraries have dedicated Reading Development Librarian Posts, the other 47.3% dedicate proportions of jobs, or time to reader development activities
- 63% of SE Libraries have a Reading Development Strategy
- 57.8% of SE Libraries have dedicated Reading Development budgets
National Events and Campaigns
- 100% of South East Library Authorities support the national campaigns of RaW, Summer Reading Challenge and World Book Day
- 94.7% of South East Library Authorities support national campaigns including: Booker Prize, Family Learning Week, Orange Prize, Richard and Judy and Vital Link
Bibliotherapy
- 27.7% of South East Libraries are currently engaged in delivering bibliotherapy or Books on Prescription projects, showing that they are engaged in delivering the government’s health agenda
- 36% of South East Libraries have expressed an intention to start delivering bibliotherapy projects
Local Events and Campaigns
- 84.2% of library authorities support local events and campaigns including Food and Drink Festivals, Gay Pride events, Literature Festivals, Arts Festivals, Carnivals, Family Learning events and much more
Reading Groups
- There are 1503 reading groups in the South East – run or supported by libraries
- 904 of these groups are private
- There are several types of specialist group – the most popular is for Visually Impaired Persons (18 groups)
- Other groups include: Book and Film, Crime, Drama, Gay and Lesbian, Shakespeare, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Tolkien and an Online Science fiction Group
Booklists and Collections
78.9% of library authorities in the South East produce their own book collections and booklists to promote new genres, authors etc to readers
Reader Development Training
- 100% of authorities offered some form of Reader Development Training
- “Frontline” by Opening The Book is to be run by all library authorities
- “Reader Development and ICT” by The Reading Agency was taken up by 52.6% of South East Authorities
- 36.8% of libraries run their own “in-house” reader development training
Partnerships with other organisations
84.2% of South East Libraries had established partnerships with outside organisations to enhance reading opportunities for their readers. These included partnerships with bookshops, schools, colleges, theatres, social services, Unilever Frozen foods and Starbucks.
Action points
- Write a regional strategy and action plan
- Embed Reading Development at the heart of all 19 library authorities across the South East
- Create a centralised reading group resource pack
- Develop one booklist and promotional materials each year
- Ensure a minimum of 3 cross authority projects over 3 years
- Ensure 63% of libraries engage in bibliotherapy projects by September 2006
