A Season Of Reading Kicks Off As Children Clock Off For Summer

"Turn Off The TV, And Pick Up A Good Book" is the message being delivered by Clare County Library to thousands of children across Clare as they finish school for the summer. To mark the beginning of the summer holidays Clare County Library has announced details of the 'Children's Summer Reading Scheme', the annual 'Children's Book Festival 2007’, and the 'Children's Summer Activities Programme' at the DeValera Library in Ennis.

Now in its sixth year the 'Children's Summer Reading Scheme' involves the Library service, in conjunction with the Reading Agency in Britain, supplying promotional packs to encourage the county's children to visit their local library and choose from a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books.

Children who complete the Summer Reading Scheme by reading six or more books will receive a special certificate of merit celebrating their achievement at an awards evening in September. Membership for children and teenagers is free at all branches of Clare County Library.

According to Patricia Fitzgerald, "Children signing up to take part in The Big Wild Read will be given a bright and colourful folder to record their summer reading, which they can decorate with specially designed stickers. There are other incentives too, fridge magnets, bookmarks and even a free pack of wild flower seeds. Special post-it notes will be available, on which participants can recommend their favourite book to fellow young readers, to be displayed on a reading tree poster at the library."

The DeValera Library in Ennis will also, once again, be hosting its annual Children’s Summer Activities Programme.

Dolores Meaney, Executive Librarian, DeValera Library explained that this year's series of free summer activities for children would take place during the first two weeks of July.

"Activities include a spinning and weaving workshop with Geraldine O'Sullivan, craft workshop with Siobhan Tierney, Mr. Mystery Puppet Show, art workshops with Dermot Twohig, learn to crochet with Edel Farrell, face painting, junior crafts, storytime and visits to the Fire Station, Ennis Abbey, Clare Museum and walks along the Ennis Sculpture Trail. The full timetable and details are available at the library or by contacting 065-6846353", stated Ms. Meaney.

Meanwhile, plans are currently underway for the Children's Book Festival in October 2007, with confirmed bookings from famous children's authors, Malachy Doyle, Judi Curtin, Niamh Sharkey and Derek Landy who has been hailed as the natural successor to J.K. Rowling.

The popularity of the annual event continues to grow with over 50,000 children participating in over 1200 events nationwide in 2006. Out of a total of thirty-two authorities, Clare County Library shares top position in the league table for the numbers of children attending events, along with Cork City and County, Galway City and County and Donegal libraries. Almost 4,000 children attended a total of 73 events in Clare during the 2006 Festival.

Clare County Library regularly hosts initiatives aimed at encouraging more children to read. Other library initiatives for children are World Book Day, Children’s Book Clubs and the library also runs a very popular Schools Service.

Meanwhile, the Clare Library Service continues to regularly renew and update its stock of children's books in all of its fifteen public libraries. Each library has a reliable and modern collection of fiction, non-fiction and reference books for children for whom membership is free. Children's fiction is divided into picture books, junior fiction for 6-9 year olds and senior fiction for 9-12 year olds. Reference, non-fiction, and Irish language books constitute the remainder of the children’s stock in all branches. Members may borrow a total of four books from any library branch in the county.

For more on Clare County Library's Children's Services log on to www.clarelibrary.ie or email mailbox@clarelibrary.ie.


-ENDS-


Note to Editor:
· Patricia Fitzgerald, Assistant Librarian, Children's Services, Clare County Library and/or Dolores Meaney, Executive Librarian, DeValera Library are available for interview. Please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 086-8534900 or email media@dunphypr.com.
· High-resolution images of Children’s Summer Reading Challenge 2006 are available nor request

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
Clonboula,
Connolly,
Ennis,
County Clare
IRELAND
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900 (Mobile)
00353-656839692 (Fax)