Get ready for the reading rush
Date Published : 25 April 2008
Clued-up Walsall people have been urged to claim an exciting free prize when they join a national reading campaign.
Free copies of the Ultimate Book Guide are being given away at every library in Walsall for young people who sign-up on Saturday April 26.
Staff at all 16 libraries across the borough have 25 copies and a welcome pack to giveaway as part of the national year of reading’s ground-breaking new national initiative ‘join a library day’.
Supported by all libraries across England the day is part of the national year of reading’s campaign to encourage parents, children and young people to join their local library.
Tim Challans, Walsall Council assistant director for leisure and culture, said: “This is a great chance for young people to discover the worlds of excitement and adventure that reading can unlock.
“This is a national campaign but I’m sure that Walsall parents and their children will really respond. If you’ve been meaning to join for a while then a chance of getting free prizes is all the incentive you’ll need.”
For the first time ever, the national year of reading and the Society of Chief Librarians have developed a universal library membership form – a simple form that can be used to join any library in England.
All you have to do is fill in the form and take it down with one form of ID to join up.
Join a library day launches a diverse on-going programme of activity in libraries across the country throughout the National Year of Reading including reading festivals and author visits. Full details of what's going on can be found on www.yearofreading.org.uk
In Walsall, information about library opening times and locations can be found on our library pages.
Library locations in Walsall are Central in Lichfield Street, in Rookery Lane, Aldridge, Stephenson Square in Beechdale, Blakenall Village Centre in Thames Road, Elmore Row in Bloxwich and Parkview Centre in Chester Road North, Brownhills.
Libraries can also be found at King Street, Darlaston, The Square in New Invention, High Street, Pelsall and at the Collingwood Centre, Collingwood Drive, Pheasey and Darlaston Road, Pleck.
Pelsall Lane, Rushal, West Bromwich Road, Walsall, Blackwood Road in Streetly, Coppice Road in Walsall Wood and Walsall Street in Willenhall are also locations.
Honor Wilson-Fletcher, project director of the national year of reading said:
“We wanted to launch the year of reading with a reminder that we all have the right as citizens to read for free, and that our libraries are brimming with ideas - dangerous, fun and diverting, as well as educational and practical, that can change our lives.
“Libraries offer a place to read too – where you don’t have to buy anything. We are delighted to have kicked off the year with a groundbreaking collaboration – and we will continue to promote libraries for the rest of the Year.’’
Devised in partnership with The Reading Agency, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and the Society of Chief Librarians, the library membership campaign aims to recruit 350,000 members throughout the course of the year.