Top Book Prizes Scooped By Powys Libraries

Two libraries in Powys have been awarded top prizes in a UK competition for their displays, which were used to promote reading to children. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Llandrindod Wells Library was awarded first prize while Brecon Library picked up second place for their displays celebrating the 100th anniversary of famous children’s author, Roald Dahl, the theme for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge – The Big Friendly Read. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Libraries across the UK were asked to submit pictures of their displays and Askews, a leading UK book supplier, set the competition and judged all the entries. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The prizes included two large collections of children’s books for different age ranges. Some will be kept back for events and competitions put on by the libraries and the rest will be added to the book stock for library members to borrow. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Lynda Simmons, Senior Library Assistant at Llandrindod Wells Library, said: “We were so happy to get the news that we were awarded first prize. The display was a way of promoting a positive experience for parents and children when coming to the library. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It all helps to create a little magic, allowing visiting children to take part in activities around the display and adding to it themselves. We used the events to sign them up to the Summer Reading Challenge at the same time, which gave them the opportunity to choose books they would like to read over the summer holidays.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Brecon Library display worked consisted of a massive painted wall frieze of Roald Dahl characters. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sian Pratten, Librarian Assistant at Brecon Library, who painted the wall frieze in her own time, said: “We went for something very eye-catching. Somehow the picture brings all the other smaller displays together, while making the children’s area visually exciting for children coming to events. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It served as a great backdrop for our Summer Reading Challenge party, where staff all had fun dressing up as Roald Dahl book characters from ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. The feedback from parents has been very positive.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr Graham Brown, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Library Services, said: “The staff have done exceptionally well considering that this was as UK-wide competition and they were up against some strong contenders. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Let’s not forget the effort of the staff who make these areas attractive and friendly spaces, often in their own time or between busy periods. The prizes are a recognition of their hard work and the public have gained from it as a result.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​