The Bookseller.com

6th October 2008

Brown launches Year of Reading

08.01.08 Benedicte Page

At a Downing Street launch for the National Year of Reading this morning (Tuesday, 8th January), Prime Minister Gordon Brown declared literacy "one of the best anti-poverty, deprivation and crime policies we can think of". The event saw Brown lay out his ambitions for a year which would "make thousands who can't read able to read, and get thousands of those who can read to read more", leaving a lasting legacy of readers in the country.

Co-hosted by Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, the event was attended by librarians, reading champions, authors Tony Parsons, Michael Morpurgo, Anthony Horowitz and Sophie Kinsella, and Richard Madeley and Amanda Ross, presenter and producer of Channel 4's "Richard and Judy".

Speaking to The Bookseller, Balls said that publishers should encourage their authors to get involved in events to promote excitement around reading, while bookshops could contribute by creating "fun places to go". He called for all employers, schools, libraries, colleges and local authorities to get involved by signing up to the National Year of Reading website at www.yearofreading.org.uk.

In an open discussion, participants proposed initiatives around reading within the family, increasing library membership, making time within the school curriculum for reading for pleasure, and enlisting the help of celebrity culture to encourage young people to learn to read.

The National Year of Reading, managed by the National Literacy Trust and The Reading Agency, will begin a programme of campaigns linked to themed months in April.

Benedicte Page Gordon Brown Year of Reading NYR

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