Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Section 1 Foreword: the author as reader: Editors’ introduction
- Section 2 Reader development: promotions and partnerships: Editors’ introduction
- 2 ‘Time To Read’: the rise and rise of a regional partnership
- 3 Reader development and social inclusion
- 4 Managing fiction: managing readers and writers
- 5 Getting into reading
- Section 3 Works of imagination: Editors’ introduction
- Section 4 Future directions: Editors’ introduction
- Section 5 Afterword: the reader as author: Editors’ introduction
- Index
2 - ‘Time To Read’: the rise and rise of a regional partnership
from Section 2 - Reader development: promotions and partnerships: Editors’ introduction
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 June 2018
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Contributors
- Introduction
- Section 1 Foreword: the author as reader: Editors’ introduction
- Section 2 Reader development: promotions and partnerships: Editors’ introduction
- 2 ‘Time To Read’: the rise and rise of a regional partnership
- 3 Reader development and social inclusion
- 4 Managing fiction: managing readers and writers
- 5 Getting into reading
- Section 3 Works of imagination: Editors’ introduction
- Section 4 Future directions: Editors’ introduction
- Section 5 Afterword: the reader as author: Editors’ introduction
- Index
Summary
Editors’ preface
‘Time To Read’ is a pioneering regional network of reader development professionals in north west England. This chapter describes how the network and many of its projects and achievements were established. ‘Time To Read’ is a model of best practice in partnership working and there is much here from which people working in other regions can learn. The chapter discusses the effect that focused funding can have on reader development schemes, and demonstrates the value of establishing and maintaining networks of professionals and partners in reader development.
Introduction
Library authorities can form regional partnerships to co-ordinate reader development activity. This chapter will cover the development of north west England's ‘Time To Read’ (TTR) network, highlighting its role and achievements. It will take a chronological look at the work of TTR, picking out activities which demonstrate the value in working across local authority boundaries, and activities undertaken in partnership with external organizations.
TTR was the first regional reader development partnership to have a fulltime, paid co-ordinator. The north west region that TTR covers is geographically large and includes 22 library authorities. It consists of the three large counties of Cumbria, Cheshire and Lancashire, and Greater Manchester and Greater Merseyside.
The early years of TTR
How did this unique development come about? The history is now quite lengthy. I shall try to describe it, giving a flavour of TTR's achievements over the years.
1996: the beginning
In 1996 Rachel van Riel of the organization Opening the Book1 delivered a pioneering six-month training course in reader development and training to ten library authority representatives in north west England. This fired those attending with enthusiasm for reader development activity – much of which was happening already, but with little recognition from many library managers and often in the face of shrinking book and activity funds. Rachel helped the group to recognize the value of the reader in designing activity – starting from where the reader is rather than imposing a set of librarian values on our stock selection, promotions and events.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Reader Development in PracticeBringing Literature to Readers, pp. 23 - 38Publisher: FacetPrint publication year: 2008