The Six Book Challenge is a program run by The Reading Agency to motivate people to read more. Participants read 6 books over time and receive a certificate. It began in 2008 and has grown each year, engaging over 40,000 people in 2014 through libraries, colleges, prisons and workplaces. Studies show it improves participants' confidence in reading. The 2015 Challenge will add a digital component and more book options at lower reading levels.

1. Six Book Challenge
for London Libraries
18 September 2014

2. The Reading Agency
• Independent national charity
• Mission to give everyone an equal chance in life by
helping people become confident and enthusiastic
readers. Because everything changes when we read
• Formal partnership with public libraries
• Work with broadcasters, publishers, government at
national level
• Work with libraries, schools, colleges, prisons,
workplaces at local level

3. Our vision
• That people’s attitudes to reading, both in
print and online, are changed by taking part
in the Six Book Challenge, whether or not
they are already readers.
• Priority audience – those who struggle with
the written word
• Also powerful for lapsed readers

4. Why?
• 5.1 million adults of working age are STILL at
the level expected of an 11 year old (moved
from 16% to 15% since 2003)
• 14.8 million adults would not achieve a GCSE
at A* - C grade (improved from 39.5% to
28.5% since 2003)
2011 Skills for Life Survey: Headline findings
Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, Dec 2011

5. • 16-24 year olds in England are rated 22nd out
of 24 countries for literacy.
• They have slightly worse skills than people
aged between 55 and 65.
Survey of Adult Skills (PIACC), OECD, Oct 2013

6. National agendas
• Business, Skills & Innovation Committee Report on
Adult Literacy & Numeracy asking for better funded,
more flexible and higher profile approach
• Rise in participation age – 18 by 2015 – and drive for
GCSE English and Maths
• Mandated learning linked to Jobcentre Plus
• Demand for ESOL provision
• Importance of family approach - Read On Get On
coalition

7. Public libraries’
Universal Reading Offer
• New strategy combining libraries’ efforts to develop
reading
• One of four SCL “national offers”; reading, digital,
information and health
• Developed with The Reading Agency
• Strategy tied to local government improvement
through Local Government Group logic model
• In England, integrated in Arts Council’s development
plans for libraries

8. Economic
impact and
value for
money
Libraries’ reading
work helps local
authorities
achieve key
outcomes
strong and
safe
communities
(including
participation)
Health, well
being and
quality of life
Learning,
skills and
employability

9. Toolbox to plan local reading offer
National
Reading
Offer
Local Regional
• Baseline reading offer
delivered by using mixture
of local, regional and national
work
• SCL has prioritised
programmes and
partnerships currently used by
60% of library authorities
• Aim to achieve a minimum of
80% of authorities using the
prioritised elements of the
toolbox – fewer, bigger things
together to generate
economies of scale.

10. The ‘Vital Link’ principles
• Partnership between public libraries and
learning providers
• Focus on integrating reading for pleasure into
literacy learning
• Working with existing learners and reaching
out to potential new learners

11. “Books have no place in this course; it’s about
learning to read!”
Basic skills tutor, ?
“The students didn’t think they could learn
through reading. It’s been a revelation to them
that they could enjoy a book and still be
learning.”
Skills for Life tutor, Tameside

12. Creating a virtuous circle
Learners
engaged in
(more) text
Learners
enjoy
reading
Learners
practise
skills
Learners
want to
read more
Learners
improve
skills

13. Defining the library offer
• Library accessible and welcoming to all adults
with low literacy levels
• Library able to support adults’ learning and
help them to move on
• Library offering books at the right reading
level that inspire as well as inform
• Library offering creative activities around
reading at the right level

14. Support from The Reading Agency
• Advocacy for libraries’ role
• Links with national initiatives eg
Quick Reads, BBC campaigns
• R & D – reading for pleasure at Entry Level, potential
for using digital games
• Reading Groups for Everyone, Mood-Boosting Books
• World Book Night
• Six Book Challenge

15. What is the Six Book Challenge?
• An invitation to read six books or other ‘materials’
and record reading in a diary
• Library support for choosing what to read
• Creative activity such as reading groups
• Incentives to increase retention
• Certificate for those who read six books
(participation certificate for less)
• A proven way of engaging and motivating adults to
improve their literacy skills

16. Six Book Challenge 2008-14
18000
16000
14000
12000
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0
2008
total
7000
2009
total
9000
2010
total
13,500
2011
total
18,000
2012
total
23,500
2013
total
35,000
2014
total
40,000
Public libraries
Colleges
Prisons
Workplaces

17. 2014 headline results
• 40,000 people registered
• 12,500 through public libraries and partners
• 17,000 in FE and sixth form colleges
• 9000 in prisons
• 1500 in workplaces
• Nearly 90% of survey respondents said they
felt more confident about reading
• 79 organisations achieved more than
50 completers

18. Impact

19. Impact
“I feel like a new more
confident person now.”
Amy Gaskin, traveller
who didn’t learn to read
until she was 60,
supported by
Derbyshire Adult
Education and library
service

20. Westminster Libraries
working with
Westminster Adult
Education Service –
209 completers

21. Event at No. 11 Downing Street on
International Literacy Day 8 September
“I have worked
with the Six Book
Challenge since it
started and I feel
as if I am really
making a
difference to
people’s lives.”
Janet Puzylo,
Development
Librarian -
Reading, LiveWire
Warrington

22. Senior management support
• “I’d recommend every library authority should
do it.” Rosemary Doyle, Head of Libraries &
Heritage, Islington
• “This is an ideal way for libraries to support
the adult literacy agenda.”
Ciara Eastell, President, Society of Chief
Librarians and Head of Devon Libraries

24. Six Book Challenge 2015
• Packs to promote the Challenge and run it with 50
people available from September 2015
• Discounts for multiple packs and reading diaries
• www.readingagency.org.uk/sixbookchallenge
• Prize draws for completers
• Prize draws for colleges, prisons and workplaces –
author visits
• Gold/silver/bronze award scheme

25. Tips for public libraries
• Partnership with local organisations
• Profile for the library
• Promotion of the right books
• Prizes
• Persistence
• Party!

26. Partnership working
• Public library services – over 60% involvement in 2014
• Adult & community learning – strong SBC library authorities
show engagement of high numbers
• Workplaces - engagement by TUC unionlearn, individual
unions and some employers
• Prison education – around 100 prisons and YOIs
• FE college libraries – over 110 colleges took part in 2014 using
their own libraries/learning resource centres
• Family learning, children’s centres – libraries running the Six
Book Challenge alongside the Summer Reading Challenge
• Health – mental health groups, NHS Trusts

27. NEW Six Book Challenge website
• www.readingagency.org.uk/sixbookchallenge
• Sponsored by mobile company Three
• Adding a digital dimension to the Six Book Challenge
• Participants can create a an online profile, log, rate
and review what they read
• Search for next read in our unique Find a read
database – nearly 500 items (pre-Entry – Level 2)
• Printed books PLUS ebooks, audio, large print,
newspapers, digital games

28. Selection criteria
• Readability level – SMOG formula
• Length, design, layout, type size
• ‘Proper’ book – no comprehension exercises, no
‘easy reader’ label
• Hook to engage reader/interest factor
• Straightforward structure, short chapters and
paragraphs, simple sentences
• Beginner readers NOT beginner thinkers!

29. • www.quickreads.org.uk
• www.accentpress.co.uk
• www.newisland.ie
• www.barringtonstoke.co.uk
• www.ransom.co.uk
• www.axiseducation.co.uk
• www.newleafbooks.org.uk
• www.gatehousebooks.org.uk
• www.readwellroad.com

30. Contacts
• Genevieve Clarke (general)
genevieve.clarke@readingagency.org.uk
0871 750 2104 / 07500 010 620
• David Kendall (prisons and workplaces)
david.kendall@readingagency.org.uk
01225 862351 / 07814 060572
• Dan Colagiovanni (sales enquiries)
daniel.colagiovanni@readingagency.org.uk
• 0207 324 2547