Summer Reading Challenge set to sizzle

AN action-packed programme of events will take place throughout Inverclyde for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.

Inverclyde Council’s libraries service is organising a variety of activities to celebrate the annual ‘read-a-thon’ to encourage young people to pick up a book during the school holidays and keep them entertained.

This year’s challenge is ‘Gadgeteers’ and is themed around science and innovation.

It launched on Saturday 25 June 2022 and runs until 27 August and is aimed at children aged 12 and under who can sign up to take part at their local library.

The challenge encourages young people to read as many books as possible with up to six recommended and earn rewards as they chart their progress and a medal and certificate at the end when they complete the challenge.

There are also a series of free events lined up, including the BodyWorks roadshow from Glasgow Science Centre, ‘Wee Storybox’ storytelling sessions, ‘Animal Man’ visits, and silent discos, as part of the challenge.

Pupils Rylee Reay and Olivia Burke, who are in P7 at St Joseph's Primary, joined library assistant Sharon Bristow at South West Library in Greenock to help launch this year's extravaganza.

Summer Reading Challenge 2022 launch South West Library Greenock. Library assistant Sharon Bristow is pictured with pupils from St Joseph's Primary.

Councillor Jim Clocherty, Inverclyde Council’s convener of education and communities, said: “There is always great participation in the Summer Reading Challenge and I expect young people and their families to support it in huge numbers once again this year.

“Not only does it promote reading and get more families into our libraries and enjoying the wonderful facilities we have but it also keeps our children and young people entertained and engages during the summer holidays.

“Our libraries services, working closely with partner organisations, has developed a first-class programme of events over the coming weeks and months and they, like our libraries themselves, are all free of charge, which is particularly important in the current climate with the cost of living crisis.”

The Summer Reading Challenge is delivered by Inverclyde Libraries in partnership with The Reading Agency and some events are supported by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC).

It is free to take part and participants can sign up at their local library.

Every child that signs up will receive a welcome pack including a map, stickers and bookmark, a discounted cinema ticket offer from the Waterfront Cinema, and each young person who completes the challenge will be entered into a prize draw to win a Lego pack.

Events are free to attend but places for some must be booked in advance via the Inverclyde Libraries Eventbrite page.

For more information check out the Inverclyde Libraries Facebook and Twitter pages and for more information about the council’s libraries service visit www.inverclyde.gov.uk/libraries.

Full list of events is as follows:

Date	Time	Activity	Location	Audience	Booking Info
25/06/22	11am-12pm	Launch of Summer Reading Challenge with Gadgeteers themed performance by local storytelling group ‘Wee Storybox’	Port Glasgow Library	Children and Families	Eventbrite
07/07/22	2-4pm	Animal Man	Gourock Library	Children and Families	Drop-in
11/07/22	2-3pm	Author Visit – Alex Mullarky "Travel with author Alex Mullarky to the magical realm beneath your feet. In Alex's debut book, The Sky Beneath the Stone, Ivy must voyage into a fairy realm under the mountains to retrieve her brother, who has been transformed into a kestrel. In this session you will hear Alex read from the book, learn all about writing, make your own magical map and use it to plan your own adventure!"	Greenock Central Library	Children aged 8-12 years	Eventbrite
11^th & 18/07/22	11am-12pm	Storybook STEM Workshop (See Description Above)	Port Glasgow Library	Children aged 5-8years and their families	Eventbrite
18/07/22	5pm-6pm	Silent Disco	Greenock Central	Children and Families	Drop-in
13/07/22	11am-3pm	Glasgow Science Centre On Tour Visit the Science Centre in Inverclyde!. An amazing opportunity to get hands on the wonderful exhibits	South West Library	Children and Families	Drop-in
14/07/22	11am-3pm	Glasgow Science Centre On Tour Visit the Science Centre in Inverclyde!. An amazing opportunity to get hands on the wonderful exhibits	Port Glasgow Library	Children and Families	Drop-in
15/07/22	11am-3pm	Glasgow Science Centre On Tour Visit the Science Centre in Inverclyde!. An amazing opportunity to get hands on the wonderful exhibits	Greenock Central Library	Children and Families	Drop-in
20/07/22	11am-3pm	Glasgow Science Centre On Tour Visit the Science Centre in Inverclyde!. An amazing opportunity to get hands on the wonderful exhibits	Gourock Library	Children and Families	Drop-in
21/07/22	11am-3pm	Glasgow Science Centre On Tour Visit the Science Centre in Inverclyde!. An amazing opportunity to get hands on the wonderful exhibits	Port Glasgow Library	Children and Families	Drop-in
22/07/22	11am-3pm	Glasgow Science Centre On Tour Visit the Science Centre in Inverclyde!. An amazing opportunity to get hands on the wonderful exhibits	Greenock Central Library	Children and Families	Drop-in
25/07 & 01/08/22	2-3pm	Storybook STEM Workshop (See Description Above)	Greenock Central Library	Children aged 5-8years and their families	Eventbrite
27/07 & 03/08/22	11am-12pm	Storybook STEM Workshop (See Description Above)	Gourock Library	Children aged 5-8 years and their families	Eventbrite
03/08/22	2-4pm	Animal Man	Kilmacolm Library	Children & Families	Drop-in
10/08/22	2-4pm	Animal Man	Greenock Central Library	Children and Families	Drop-in
10^th, 11^th, 12^th/08/22	11am-1pm	Paul Bristow workshops. Each workshop is a standalone activity.	South West Library	Children aged 8-12 years	Eventbrite
15/08/22	5pm-6pm	Silent Disco	Greenock Central	Children and Families	Drop-in
27/08/22		Summer Reading Challenge ends
14/09/22	6pm-7pm	Summer Reading Challenge Celebration with magician Gary Dunn	Greenock Town Hall	Invitation to completers of Summer Reading Challenge and their families	Eventbrite

Page last updated: 28 June 2022