Lancashire Reads

Loosely based upon the ‘City Reads’ scheme, but far more ambitious! Lancashire Reads is intended to be a high-profile conclusion to our National Year of Reading celebrations. Designed to create an impact but flexible enough to accommodate pre-existing initiatives e.g. National Poetry Day, Family Passport.

Why choose the Spook’s Apprentice? The book appeals to young people and adults, and we hope it will get families talking about books & reading. The book is firmly rooted in the landscape of Lancashire, its history, folklore and traditions and the author lives locally!

A key target of NYR is to get more boys reading and this book is likely to appeal to them The language in the book should not prove a barrier to emergent readers Joe Delaney has consistently been nominated for the Children’s Book of the Year Award & is only going to get hotter - Warner Brothers have just bought the film rights!

Finally and most ambitiously, whilst the Spooks Apprentice will form the focus of the campaign, our hope is to promote reading in its broadest sense The book will act as a springboard to a whole programme of events, with the capacity to involve every department, as well as other colleagues in Cultural Services, e.g. Museums and the Record Office.

Lancashire Reads will run over three months, each month has a different theme. September: What makes our sense of place? October: Chills and Spookiness. November: Celebrating Lancashire, as we head towards Lancashire Day on 27 th Tempting people to read and discuss the Spooks Apprentice will be on-going throughout

September: Capturing Lancashire in words and images Promoting local authors, or books which are set in Lancashire. Launch of a Tale Trail, plotting the progress of the Spook through Lancashire Launch of various quizzes and competitions Exploring a sense of place with immigrant workers through a series of workshops.

October: Stories to make you shiver. Exploring the enduring appeal of myth, magic and fairytales. Promote stories and authors with a spooky theme. Launch quiz exploring spookiness in other cultures and traditions All Passport and Family Learning events to be tied into the theme

November: Celebrating all things Lancashire Extolling the virtues of local food and produce Going Global! Sharing the book with twinned towns or namesakes across the world e.g. ‘New Lancaster’ and ‘Preston’ in the U.S. Lancashire Day, 27 th November, to be key focus date.

Stock 2,500 books are currently on order 250 Large print books have been especially produced for us 250 copies of books 2, 3 and 4 of the Wardstone chronicles are on order We are currently sourcing foreign language editions 150 copies have been purchased for Reading Group use Bookshops in Lancashire will be offering the book at a discount, throughout the promotion.

Examples of some local plans to date Lytham Library’s 130 Birthday celebrations to feature their own resident spook! Local history talks and Walks (Ghost walks?) Reading Groups and Chatterbooks involvement Thornton Library staff working on a project with the Paul Nicholas Theatre company to produce a play of the Spooks Apprentice Special edition of word up (e-magazine) featuring Joe Delaney Morecambe Library to link with college for celebration of traditional Lancashire cookery! Spooky tales and craft workshops throughout half term

Lancashire Reads is about promoting books and reading – after all, that’s what we do in libraries! But we need all of you! -Please try and read the book yourself -Recommend it to others -Pass on any promotional ideas to the working party (names on the final slide) Thank You!

-Gill Entwistle -Jake Hope -Deb Valentine -Kev Dewhirst -Andrew Walmsley -Diane Scarborough -Lynn Fenton -Karen Dobson -Nicola Walsh