LANCASHIRE County Council has officially launched a countywide reading challenge at a special event at Pendle Heritage Centre as part of the 2008 National Year of Reading campaign.
Between September and November, the county council’s Library and Information Service is inviting young and old alike to get reading and talking about the same book – ‘The Spook’s Apprentice’ by local author Joseph Delaney.
The launch of Lancashire Reads was attended by a number of county councillors including the Leader of Lancashire County Council, Councillor Hazel Harding and cabinet member for Adult and Community Services for Lancashire County Council, Councillor Anne Brown. They welcomed the author Joseph Delaney and local readers of the Spook’s Apprentice to talk about the book and why reading is important to them.
The county council has carefully selected the popular children’s horror fantasy novel, ‘The Spook’s Apprentice’, which takes you on a thrilling, mystical and terrifying adventure full of ghosts, witches and boggarts. The book is part of the ‘Wardstone Chronicles Series’ and is popular with people of all ages.
The author, Joseph Delaney, was born in Preston and has lived in Lancashire for over thirty years so residents of Lancashire will particularly enjoy this book which is firmly rooted in the landscape of Lancashire, its history, folklore and traditions. You may even recognise some of the fantasy locations such as ‘Chipenden’ ( Chipping ) and ‘Priestown’ ( Preston ) as real places in our very own county!
Every library in the county is recruiting local celebrities to read and adopt the book and then be ambassadors for the pleasure of reading. Recruits so far include Preston soccer ace Sir Tom Finney and dozens of county councillors and local personalities.
Although some cities have tried this reading challenge before, it has never been attempted by a county the size of Lancashire.
Lancashire Reads challenge is part of a wider campaign to get people learning, reading and enjoying books.
Gill Entwistle, area manager for Lancashire County Council’s Library and Information Service, said:
“Reading is a skill that many of us take for granted but the truth is that a staggering 5.2 million adults are estimated to have only very basic reading skills. We want to use the remaining months of 2008 to remind people just how wonderful reading is, and as well as encouraging individuals and families to read and talk about this book, there will be ample opportunity to do lots more.”
During this challenge there will be events and activities in libraries across the county that the whole family can enjoy.
The Library and Information Service has also teamed up with Lancashire Museums and Lancashire Record Office during Lancashire Reads to offer a wide programme of activities in different venues.
Look out for writing and craft workshops, visits from authors, cookery demonstrations, and spooky story times for adults as well as young people.
For more information on the Lancashire Reads challenge and events in your local library visit www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries
Joseph Delaney biography
The Spook’s Apprentice book review