5 August 2009
Hundreds of children are learning to love reading in the
City
More than 300 children have signed up to take part in this year’s
City of London Summer Challenge programme. This week some of them,
aged 4-12 and from all across the City of London and neighbouring
areas, gathered at Bunhill Fields for a special outdoor event as
part of the Quest Seekers 2009 Summer Reading Challenge, organised
by the City of London Corporation.
Commenting on the event, Barbican Librarian John Lake said:
- “Outdoor events such as this are fun for everyone but,
ultimately, we hope they will also encourage children to read more,
especially during the holiday period.
- The Summer Challenge is a great way to engage with our local
residents and to get kids from all over the City of London and in
the city fringe excited about reading.”
Isaac, 7, a local resident, explained why he signed up to take
part in the 2009 Summer Challenge:
- “I love reading and I have already read two books this summer.
If I read another four, I will get a prize. It is very
exciting.”
First established in 2007, the City of London Summer Challenge
programme is designed to encourage children who use the City’s
three lending libraries to continue reading during the long summer
break.
To complete the Challenge, each child must read six books
during the summer - those who complete the challenge will be
invited to a special awards ceremony at the Guildhall in October
where the Lord Mayor will present them each with a certificate and
a medal.
The event saw The City Gardens and Lending Library Sections team
up to put on an afternoon of activities and events based around the
2009 Summer Challenge’s Quest Seekers theme at Bunhill Fields.
Ends
Notes to editors
About the City of London
The City of
London Corporation is a uniquely diverse organisation. It supports
and promotes the City as the world leader in international finance
and business services and provides local services and policing for
those working in, living in and visiting the Square Mile. It also
provides valued services to London and the nation. These include
the Barbican Centre and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama;
the Guildhall Library and Art Gallery and London Metropolitan
Archive; a range of education provision (including three City
Academies); five Thames bridges (including Tower Bridge and the
Millennium Bridge); the Central Criminal Court at Old Bailey; over
10,000 acres of open spaces (including Hampstead Heath and Epping
Forest), and three wholesale food markets. It is also London’s Port
Health Authority and runs the Animal Reception Centre at Heathrow.
It works in partnership with neighbouring boroughs on the
regeneration of surrounding areas and the City Bridge Trust, which
it oversees, donates more than £15m to charity annually.
Libraries in the City of London
The three
lending libraries in the City of London are all taking part in the
Quest Seekers 2009 Summer Reading Challenge – they are:
- Barbican
- Camomille Street
- Shoe Lane
More information about the City of London’s libraries
For photographs, or for more information, please contact:
James Abbott
Press Officer – the City of London Corporation
Mob 07920 828 421
Tel 020 7332 1754
Email
james.abbott@cityoflondon.gov.uk