Archive News Item

Local youngsters are being encouraged to visit their local library over the summer holidays to take part in a fun reading challenge.

Story Lab – this year’s Summer Reading Challenge – is a free scheme aimed at getting children into reading as well as building confidence and learning new skills. This year’s challenge will have a link to the 2012 Olympics and is an official project in the Cultural Olympiad’s London 2012 Festival.

Libraries across the county will welcome children into a reading adventure that will keep them reading throughout the school summer holidays. The challenge, which started on Saturday 14 July, will finish on Saturday 15 September.

Children aged between four and 12 can now sign up for the challenge at any Powys County Council library and once part of the Story Lab troupe, they will be encouraged to read six or more books of their choice over the holidays with collectable incentives and rewards.

The council’s Library Service has teamed up with leisure centres in the county to offer free family swimming (up until 31 October) for those complete the challenge, together with entry into a prize draw.

Children under the age of four will also be able to take part in a similar challenge called Book Crawl, where parents can also join the library along with their child and read books with their children to receive stickers and beautifully illustrated certificates.

Cllr Myfanwy Alexander, Cabinet Member for Learning and Leisure, said: “All parents know that reading is vital for their children and the reading challenge makes it fun.

"I would urge all families to enojy the opportunities provided by their local library and avoid the holiday cry of 'Mum, I'm bored'."

To register to take part, visit your nearest Powys County Council library.