Powys Libraries Celebrate Their Reading Champions

Children across the county who took part in a reading challenge over the summer holidays have been celebrating their successes with award ceremonies at their local libraries. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The challenge to children was to finish six books in The Big Friendly Read, this year’s Summer Reading Challenge, and gather stickers each time they read a book. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At the end of the challenge, the youngsters who participated received a medal and a certificate from their local library as well as a free family swim voucher to use in swimming pools in Powys, run by Freedom Leisure, before Sunday 30 October. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

All the participants completing the reading challenge automatically had their names entered into a prize draw, which will be drawn at the beginning of October. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Prizes will include free entry to the Roald Dahl Museum for a family, a free family day pass to the Animalarium in Borth, a day out at the Cotswold Wildlife Park for adult and child and some wonderful Roald Dahl children’s books. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In Brecon Library, a special party was organised with some dressing up activities and games around the centenary celebrations of the popular children’s author Roald Dahl, when parents and children alike enjoyed the reading fun. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“A wonderfully organised and really engaging summer reading activity for kids of all ages,” said parent Vicki Coleman. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Our two had great whizzpoppings and enjoyed the scrumdiddlyumptious cake at the party.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Charlie Ward, a parent that came to the Brecon Party, said: “Our son was motivated more and read ahead of the party at the library. The party was wonderful and the librarians in costumes was a real treat, such good humour.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Llandrindod Library had a similar ‘End of Challenge Celebration’ with activities that included the Oompa-Loompa pass the parcel game, the invention room, the Marvellous Medicine refreshment room and an Oompa-Loompa mask making session. An Enormous Crocodile craft workshop was also very popular with the participants. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Many of the parents said how much the children had enjoyed the craft activities held during the summer holidays,” said Sue Bone, Llandrindod Wells Branch Librarian. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The party is a way to celebrate everyone’s achievements. We would especially like to thank Emily Berry from Llandrindod High School, who volunteered to help during the Summer Reading Challenge by listening to young readers, helping with the craft activities and the Celebration party. She was awarded the ‘Llandrindod Library Summer Volunteer 2016’ by the Llandrindod library staff.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Many schools have included the medal and certificate presentations as part of their school assemblies for the new academic year, with library staff going into schools to make the presentations. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Graham Brown, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Library Services, said: “Our public libraries have demonstrated a real commitment to reader development, breaking down the barriers to building confident young readers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“They have shown us how to encourage a fun and positive reading experience for children, and through rewarding their efforts, motivated the children to read even more.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​