Are you sitting comfortably? Then lets get ready for tomorrow’s Reading Together Day…

Northumberland Libraries is celebrating a new initiative which is encouraging families across the county to sit and read together.

 

Reading Together Day is this Thursday, July 16 and has been set up by national organisation the Reading Agency to promote the benefits of reading together as a family especially at a time when schooling has been disrupted for many children.

 

Throughout the day on the libraries’ social media pages they will be sharing videos of why people across the county love reading, including children’s author and illustrator Liz Million.

 

They are also asking people, young and old,  to share their own experiences and why they love reading.

 

There will also be activities happening all day on the Reading Agency’s website  including story time with special guests such as Dolly Parton and comedian and actor Ben Miller. There will also be blog posts on the benefits to children of reading together, there’s even an online Reading Together Treasure Hunt to try at home.

 

The initiative is a collaboration with 18 organisations across the publishing and literacy, culture and education sectors collaborating to deliver a programme of activities to encourage everyone to read together, aiming to reach as many families and young people as possible.

 

Coordinated by The Reading Agency, the day will shine a light on the amazing work of the individual organisations across the sectors and will showcase events from collaborators including Authors Aloud UK, Arts Council England, ASCEL, BookTrust, British Library, CILIP, Coram Beanstalk, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Department for Education, Dollywood Foundation, Libraries Connected, National Literacy Trust, Open University, Pearson, Publishers Association, School Library Association and World Book Day.

 

Cllr Cath Homer, cabinet member for libraries at Northumberland County Council said: “As families and individuals grapple with the challenges of school changes, loss of support networks and the implementation of social distancing, the Reading Together Day will bring families, friends, schools and wider communities together – starting conversations, sharing stories,making connections and celebrating reading.

 

“We are inviting everyone to join in with the nation to celebrate the proven power of reading and having fun!”

 

Keep checking the libraries Facebook and Twitter pages throughout the day.