Category : Factual
& Arts TV
Date : 11.05.2004
Printable version
It's official,
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TWO's The Big Read, the nationwide search to find Britain's best-loved
book, really did encourage people to read more, particularly through
the campaign's outreach work with libraries and schools.
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One in three people who engaged with initiative Β–
through either the programme or special events - say they will read
more as a result.
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From avid readers to those who hadn't opened a book
since school, The Big Read aimed to get the whole country enthused,
excited and talking about the books that bring pleasure to the nation.
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The campaign harnessed the support of schools, libraries
and national literacy organisations and charities who held their own
Big Read activities.
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From Swap-a-book initiatives at work to parent-child
reading groups, Meet the Author events to Big Read Lucky Dips, Big Read
activity days in schools to Big Read pub quizzes, activities were planned
for all ages.
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In total, an impressive 65% of primary schools surveyed
ran a tailored event, making use of lesson plans and suggested activity
ideas developed as an integral part of The Big Read campaign taking
teachers through the initial nomination round, the top 100 and then
the final top 10.
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In partnership with The Reading Agency (TRA), all of
the UK's library authorities signed up to the initiative too.
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This led to 75% of libraries (3,000 in total) mounting
Big Read displays and organising tailored activities which resulted
in 65% of library-users engaging in some way with the Big Read initiative.
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Library lending of the Top 21 titles increased by an
impressive 123% and book sales of the Top 21 titles increased by a whopping
575%.
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Miranda McKearney, Director of TRA, said: "The
library involvement in the Big Read was a fantastic partnership, weaving
together the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ's broadcasting muscle and glitz with the powerful community
presence of libraries.
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"The most exciting thing was the way the partnership
worked to create a debate about reading Β– 97% of people questioned
in libraries said it had stimulated debate about books and 83% said
it had widened their reading."
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bbc.co.uk/bigread attracted more than 350,000 unique
users.
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This resulted in more than 50,000 downloads of teaching
resources - developed in partnership with The National Literacy Trust
- enabling people all over the country to engage with the project.
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There was also 113,000 downloads of The Little Guide
to Big Reading which was developed in conjunction with the Booktrust.
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Brimming with ideas about how to read, talk about,
and enjoy books, the pack aimed to help people get the best out of literary
conversations whether in a formal reading group or just down the pub!
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Jane Root, Controller of Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TWO, said: "These
statistics clearly demonstrate that the nation engaged with the Big
Read above and beyond the television programmes, which was one of my
main aims from the outset of the project.
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"I am thrilled that as a direct result of the Big
Read more people in the UK are now reading books, visiting libraries,
joining book groups and engaging with literature on all levels."
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Launched in April 2003, The Big Read was one of the
biggest ever campaigns to get the country reading.
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As well as the outreach partnerships, it encompassed
programming on Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ TWO and across all Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ networks, including CΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ,
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ FOUR, Radio 4, Radio Five Live and bbc.co.uk.
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Notes to Editors
Β• The Lord of the Rings was voted the nationΒ’s favourite book.
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Β• The statistics within this release are the results
of a survey conducted by TRA, CIPFA and Hugh Hope-Stone Associates.
Β• Booktrust is an independent organisation bringing books and individuals
together in the creation of a network of book groups up and down Britain.
Β• The Reading Agency (TRA) is the national development agency for
libraries' work with readers. Its mission is to inspire a reading nation.
Β• National Literacy Trust (NLT) is an independent charity dedicated
to building a literate nation. It runs the National Reading Campaign
which promoted the Big Read to the education sector.
