London's Public Libraries - Key Roles in Reader Development

There are 360 public libraries in London. Every single day, thousands of library users will discover a new author, find a book they have always wanted to read, learn something new, be moved by the impact of something they read.  Public libraries do more to stimulate reader development than any other cultural provider in London.

In October 2005 the Association of London Chief Librarians (ALCL) adopted its Get London Reading Strategy. This strategy has seven themes:

• Getting more people to read
• Increasing the enjoyment of reading
• Offering opportunities for readers to share their reading experiences
• Giving library staff confidence to support library readers
• Cementing links between readers, writers and publishers
•  Planning monitoring and evaluating
• Widening reading experiences

In addition the  associated Get London Reading compact  gives each borough the opportunity to map its progress against three levels for each each theme. with supporting evidence.

On June 12th 2007 London reader development librarians got together to kick off a review of the Get London Reading strategy and to look to consider future priorities for this important area of library work in the light of emerging technology, underserved audiences and workforce development needs.  The opening presentation and a report from the day as a whole can be found here

• A review of the ALCL Get London Reading strategy to 2007
• Report and evaluation data from the ALCL Get London Reading Day 2007

London Libraries Recommend

Preceded by Read Routes, the first ever adult pan-London reader development project, London Libraries Recommend... is a key plank of the ALCL Get London Reading strategy. Taking place twice a year (with May and November launches)  London Libraries Recommend... has public librarians at its heart and their recommendations as the central element of these branded, high quality and imaginative reader development projects. 

Past promotions can be found on the London Libraries Recommend pages of the London Libraries website and  the London Libraries Recommend Steering Group pages have minutes of meetings with planning and decision making information.

Balls etc: for those who prefer their sport on paper

Our current London Libraries Recommends... promotion, Balls etc, features fiction and non fiction on the theme of sport.

To find out more about Balls etc and to download evaluation forms, book list and artwork, click here.

Other reading activity...