The written word remains a strong attraction to Kilkenny’s children, even with the proliferation of television, DVDs, computer consoles, laptops and other technological temptations it appears.
Recognising the important role that reading has in a child’s life, Kilkenny library services held a summer reading challenge for children which came to an exciting end in the Newpark Hotel on Monday, October 11.
As part of the ‘Space Hop reading challenge’, 250 local children ploughed through a whopping 1,500 books, each taking up the challenge and reading a minimum of six books during their summer holidays.
The impressive statistic is a welcome contradiction to the perception that the younger generations have forsaken reading in favour easier entertainment offered by television and computer games.
And over 300 people attended the library services’ celebratory night in the Newpark Hotel, where children and parents were treated to entertainment provided by the Lords of Strut.
Their jugglin, unicycling and comedic performance was followed by the presentation of well earned certificates and reading medals to the children.
By encouraging the children to get involved with the reading challenge, they have also been introduced to an important and great, free resource which is on their doorsteps, the public library.
This year Kilkenny library services used the expertise of the Reading Agency to run the reading challenge. The agency is a leading authority on promoting reading for all ages and abilities and up to 750,000 children in England also took part in the reading challenge organised through their public libraries.
The Kilkenny library service also took part in the recent 20th Children’s Book Festival during October, with a spotlight shone on children and their reading and numerous events taking place in libraries, schools and bookshops encouraging children to read more.
Libraries in Kilkenny played host to authors and storytellers throughout the month, as well as craft, print and history workshops and wildlife talks. Visiting authors included David Donohoe, Dolores Keaveney and Eanna Ni Lamhna.
And there was an historical angle to some of the events, including the National Print Museum’s outreach programme showing the young audience how an old printing press worked, with the children able to practice setting and printing their own name.
And the Irish History Live Show explored living in 1910, the 1916 Rising and World War II.
Children’s Books Ireland produced a list of recommended reading for children from babies to late teens. This booklet is an invaluable guide to the best reading available for children in the past year. The guide is free and copies are available in all libraries.
