Genevieve Clarke, reading agency and Stephen Wickens, Westminster Kingsway College gave a lightening talk at the first meeting of the ALRG London and south east meeting on the 9th May 2012. An interesting presentation on how to engage FE college students in the six book reading challenge, a popular reading agency initiative.

1. College and public library
collaboration with the
Six Book Challenge
Genevieve Clarke, The Reading Agency
Stephen Wickens, Westminster
Kingsway College

2. What is the Six Book Challenge?
• An invitation to read six books or other
material and record reading in a diary
• Library support for choosing books
• Creative activity such as reading groups
• Incentives and a certificate for those who read
six books (participation certificate for less)
• 18,000 registered in 2011 through public
libraries, colleges, workplaces and prisons

3. What can it achieve for students?
• Increased motivation to read and learn more
• Improved skills – reading, writing, speaking
and listening
• Better awareness of offer from college and
public libraries
• Development of a new reading habit
• Enjoyment of reading!

4. What can it provide for
college libraries?
• A practical tool for partnership development
with other library sectors, eg public libraries
• A new way of working with tutors across the
college, eg ESOL, Functional Skills, Foundation
Learning, Media Studies
• Increased awareness and use of the college
library
• Opportunity to win visit from a top author!

5. Support from The Reading Agency
• Reading diaries, certificates, posters,
bookmarks, leaflets, fliers, incentives
• Guidance and case studies at
www.sixbookchallenge.org.uk
• Links to public library services
• Over 1000 reading recommendations at
• www.readingagency.org.uk/findaread
• Links with other national initiatives eg
Quick Reads, BBC campaigns, World Book Night

6. Westminster Kingsway College and
Camden Libraries
• Launch party for ESOL
students
• 35 completers
• Sessions facilitated by WKC
and Camden staff
• High profile prizegiving

7. Westminster Kingsway College
and Camden Libraries
• Many joined Camden libraries
• New impetus to book clubs
• Student confidence
• Student’s progress in language
• Solid basis for future work with Camden
• Raised profile for learning centre

8. Contacts
• Genevieve Clarke
genevieve.clarke@readingagency.org.uk
0871 750 2104 / 07500 010 620
• Stephen Wickens
stephen.wickens@westking.ac.uk
020 7832 5296