Why should the children get all the fun this summer? Library service encourages adults to read too

In a first for the borough and for the region, Cheshire West and Chester Libraries are launching the "Adults Read Two" campaign to encourage more adults to read library books over the summer.

Entrants over 16 who read two or more books can enter a competition for free and be in with a chance of winning £50 in book vouchers. The scheme complements the highly successful Summer Reading Challenge, which attracted 5,156 children last year.

It is hoped that adults who are joining their children to do this year's Summer Reading Challenge, called "Space Chase" will take part in "Adults Read Two" – and not just because of the potential prize. Benefits include :

• Children who see adults reading are more likely to read;
• Reading a book for just six minutes has been shown to be more relaxing than having a hot drink, listening to music or watching television;
• Joining the library and borrowing a book, eBook or eAudio book from your library is free;
• Books can be returned at any Cheshire West and Chester library.

The Borough's libraries are making it as easy as possible to take part by saying that any library book can be read in any format and anyone over 16 can take part,you don't have to be a parent or guardian.

The competition takes place at the same time as the Summer Reading Challenge, starting on Saturday 13 July and ending on Saturday 7 September. An entrant will then be chosen at random to receive £50 in book vouchers.

Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing, Councillor Louise Gittins said : "One of our libraries noticed that a similar scheme has been running successfully elsewhere, and we thought it was a great idea".

"We see many parents or guardians coming in to get their children to join up but we notice not all of them take out books for themselves at the same time. Over 1.3 million books were taken out from our libraries last year which is four books per every person in the borough. This is fantastic but we hope that this scheme will encourage both adults and children to read even more."

Book loans from Cheshire West Libraries, totalled more than 1.3 million last year (2018/19). More than 778,000 adult books were borrowed and more than 570,000 children's books were borrowed. The population of Cheshire West in 2017 was 338,000.

More information, including terms and conditions, on Adults Read Two can be found CLICK HERE