Actor Liza Goddard took her lead from a character in "The Wind
In The Willows" when she set out to enjoy a spot of boating on the
river to promote the "Join a Library" day campaign, supported by
Bath & North East Somerset Council.
"Join a Library day", on Saturday, 26 April, is part of the 2008
National Year of Reading campaign. This campaign features the
well-loved classic, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame, as
its "reading together" book.
Ms Goddard, who is currently appearing at Bath’s Theatre Royal,
and Councillor Charles Gerrish, Bath & North East Somerset
Council’s Cabinet Member for Customer Services, are
pictured at the Bath Boating Station this week.
To encourage more people to become members of their library, any
children, young people and parents who sign up on Saturday will
receive a free copy of the exclusive National Year of Reading’s The
Ultimate Book Guide, plus a library welcome pack.
Librarians will also be available throughout the day to provide
advice and information about the range of reading opportunities
available and other events or reading projects taking place in the
library.
The campaign is also making it easier than ever before to join
your library. For the first time ever, the National Year of Reading
and the Society of Chief Librarians have developed a universal
library membership form.
This form can be used to join any library in England. It just to
be completed and then taken along to your local library, with one
piece of personal identification information- such as a driving
licence, or official proof of address.
Councillor Charles Gerrish, Bath & North East Somerset
Council’s Cabinet Member for Customer Services, said: "Bath &
North East Somerset Council’s libraries offer a fantastic resource
for local people. I hope that families will take up this
opportunity to find out more about what their local libraries have
to offer. My own children have immense pleasure in accessing the
range of library services. The libraries are organising other
activities to celebrate the 2008 National Year of Reading campaign.
There are chances to take part in prize draws, and also events such
as readings by well known authors. Perhaps one of the best ways to
find out more is to visit your local library and find out all about
it."
Honor Wilson-Fletcher, Project Director of the National Year of
Reading, said: "We wanted to launch the Year of Reading with a
reminder that we all have the right as citizens to read for free,
and that our libraries are brimming with ideas- dangerous, fun, and
diverting, as well as educational and practical, that can change
our lives. Libraries offer a place to read too- where you don’t
have to buy anything! We are delighted to have kicked off the year
with a groundbreaking collaboration, and we will continue to
promote libraries for the rest of the Year."
As part of 2008 National Year of Reading, Bath & North East
Somerset Council is also organising a series of prize draws for
great prizes, including free internet access, Spa treatments, one
night’s hotel accommodation, and free internet access. The easy
steps to take if you would like to take part are: to join a library
and receive your visitor card and get this card stamped every time
you visit a library. When the card has six stamps you can put it
into the entry box, and wait to find out if you’re a
prizewinner.
Further information about Bath & North East Somerset
Council’s libraries is available on the Libraries pages.
More information about the National Year of Reading is available
at www.yearofreading.org.uk
