THURROCK Council’s library service is joining up with bestselling author Martina Cole and national charity The Reading Agency to get even more adults in reading.
The nationwide Six Book Challenge encourages less confident readers to develop a new reading habit and improve their skills at the same time.
Those taking part are invited to pick six reads of their choice – these can include poems and articles – and complete a reading diary in order to receive incentives along the way and a certificate.
Martina Cole, the acknowledged queen of crime drama, is the official ambassador of the latest Six Book Challenge. She will be meeting Six Book Challenge participants at events around the UK in 2014 and everyone who completes the challenge will receive a certificate signed by her.
She said: “The wonderful thing about the Six Book Challenge is that people who don’t normally read, or who think that reading isn’t their bag, are encouraged to pick up a book.
“When you read a book you have to picture it all in your own mind. No one tells you what you’re seeing or what you should be feeling. That’s the secret of reading – it’s such a personal thing.”
The challenge has grown five-fold over the past six years with 35,000 people across the UK taking part in 2013 via public libraries, colleges, workplaces, prisons, army education centres and other settings.
Joining has never been easier – just visit your local library and sign up for free.
There is also a new website to support Six Book Challenge participants at www.sixbookchallenge.org.uk .
