Thousands of children in Denbighshire took part in the national Summer Reading Challenge 2011, the highest response rate in Wales.
The 2011 Challenge, based around Circus Stars theme, was the most successful ever in Denbighshire, with 4,859 children taking part, an increase of 29% on last year. This compared to the Wales average of 1,830 and 13.2% of those taking part in Wales were from Denbighshire.
The Summer Reading Challenge is a key part of the Libraries’ Partnership with Schools Plan 2011-12 and its aim is to increase the number of children and young people visiting libraries and taking part in library activities.
In Denbighshire:
- 68% completed the Challenge – the highest rate in Wales
- 13.7% increase in the number of books borrowed (69,387 books borrowed)
- 56% of primary age children took part
- 48% of those taking part were boys
- There was an increase in the number of schools with over 50% of their children taking part, with a decrease in the number of schools with fewer than 25% of children taking part.
- 382 children joined the library service to take part in the Challenge.
Since the first national Summer Reading Challenge took place in 1999
- The number of children taking part has increased 5 fold from 1,100 to 4,859
- The number of books borrowed thas increased by over 196%
- Denbighshire has had the highest participation and completion rates in Wales for at least the last four years.
Councillor Pauline Dobb, Cabinet Lead Member with responsibility for Libraries, said: ” I am truly delighted at the success of the last Summer Reading Challenge.
“The feedback received from children and their parents speaks volumes and I must congratulate the library service staff and schools for motivating children to show an interest in books through fun and interactive activities.
“Getting involved in the world of books helps develop children’s creative and language skills and really gives them a sense of achievement. I hope the tremendous success of the Challenge will encourage even more youngsters to pick up a book and take part in next year’s project.”
The Summer Reading Challenge in Wales is organised by The Reading Agency, managed locally by library services and supported by the Welsh Government and the Welsh Books Council.
