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http://askchris.essexcc.gov.uk
Ask Chris combines the knowledge and enthusiasm of Essex libraries staff with the recommendations of readers and reading groups across Essex, to provide book recommendations for those looking for something to read.
www.bbc.co.uk/arts/pageturners
BBC Page Turners, the site of the BBC books programme, which includes information, links and a discussion board.
www.booktrust.org.uk
Booktrust is a charity that promotes reading, and is an independent voice for readers. It runs a range of projects and administers many children's literature prizes, including the Nestle Children's Book Award. It also coordinates the Bookstart books for babies project and produces a wide range of information and publications for readers both old and young.
Contact: Booktrust, Book House, 45 East Hill, London SW18 2QZ. Tel: 020 8516 2977.
www.hi-read.org.uk
Book Bytes is the website of Highland Readers, including case studies of successful projects and reviews of good reads. The reviews section allows people to classify their favourite books into simple categories such as "quick", "relaxing" and "challenging", and is particularly useful for emergent adult readers.
www.bookcrossing.com
Book Crossing is a worldwide book exchange. Members "release" their books for other people to find in locations across the world. The website provides records of books released and found, reviews, ratings and recommendations from across the globe.
www.bookgrouponline.com
Book Group Online is an online reading group for registered users. Discussions are based around genres and themes as well as specific books. Discussions are monitored and so are suitable for both children and adults.
www.bookgroup.info
Bookgroup.info is a website dedicated to reading groups, based on the reviews of a Brighton reading group over the last 10 years. It features an archive of books previously discussed by the group, adding a new title each month, as well as profiles of reading groups and advice on setting up new forums.
www.bookheads.org.uk
Bookheads contains information about books for teenagers and the Booktrust Teenage Book Prize.
www.BookHopper.com
BookHopper.com is a completely free service that allows people to swap books from home for books they haven't read. Once registered users must offer 3 books, then can choose from any in the entire collection. The site is international but book searches only display books offered only by people in the same country, to reduce postage costs. The sender pays postage, and recipients can only receive the same number of books as they have sent themselves to others.
www.booktribes.com
Book Tribes is a networking website for people who are passionate about reading. It allows users to discuss and recommend books, and view the profiles of others who share their favourites.
www.braw.org.uk
BRAW (books, reading and writing) is a Scottish network for children's books, set up under the umbrella of the Scottish Book Trust with funding from the Scottish Arts Council. It aims to promote children's authors and illustrators based in Scotland nationally and internationally.
www.branching-out.net
Branching Out is an extremely useful website for anyone interested in reading or reader development. The Branching Out project is a three year initiative from the Society of Chief Librarians. The website is the main tool for dissemination of the outcomes of the programme eg research, evaluation, reader development projectsand promotions in which all library authorities can participate. Branching Out is managed by Opening the Book, working in partnership with Books for Students and the University of Central England. Other partners include HarperCollins, all Regional Arts Boards in England, the National Library for the Blind and 33 English Library Authorities. The website also features WhichBook.net, a software programme designed to aid readers in their choice of books by providing a list of titles that fit in with their own individual specifications.
www.childrensbooksequels.co.uk
Children's Book Sequels helps you discover the right order of children’s book series, from classics such as the Famous Five and What Katy Did to modern series including Harry Potter and A Series of Unfortunate Events.
www.childrensbooksireland.com
Children's Books Ireland aims to promote quality children's books and reading throughout the country. It was formed in 1996 through a merger of the Children's Literature Association of Ireland and The Irish Children's Book Trust. It also runs the annual Book Fest, which takes place in schools and libraries each October.
Contact: Children's Books Ireland, First Floor, 17 North Great George's Street, Dublin 1, Ireland. Email: info@childrensbooksireland.com.
www.cool-reads.co.uk
Cool Reads is a useful book review website run by and for 10-15 year-olds.
www.encompassculture.com
Encompass Culture is the British Council's worldwide reading group site, providing information on thousands of books and a chance to talk about books with other readers around the world. There is also a database of reading group projects in the UK and information for groups, including how to get started and how to 'twin' your group with one in another country.
www.everybodysreading.co.uk
Everybody's Reading is the website of a North West libraries partnership project, Reading Lifelines. It aims to promote reading to all those in the North West aged 16-25, although information such as ideas for great reads, book reviews, web links and chances to have your say will be of interest to people of this age group, wherever they are.
www.fcbg.org.uk
Federation of Children's Book Groups (FCBG) is a national voluntary organisation concerned with children and their books.
Contact: Federation of Children's Book Groups, 2 Bridge View Cottage, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 5PE. Tel: 0113 258 8910.
www.findmeagoodread.com
Find Me a Good Read is a personal shopper service for books helping you to find books for yourself or friends. Answer an online questionnaire about your reading preferences. You will then be sent an email with book recommendations and help to find ways to buy the book or borrow it from your local library.
www.gaelicbooks.net
Gaelic Books Council, funded by the Scottish Arts Council, works to promote Gaelic books. It provides publication grants for publishers to issue new books and commission grants for authors to write them. It holds a stock of every Gaelic and Gaelic-related book in print in its Glasgow bookshop and these may also be purchased via the website.
Contact: The Gaelic Books Council, 22 Mansfield Street, Glasgow G11 5QP. Tel: 0141 337 6211.
www.thegoodbookguide.com
The Good Book Guide is primarily an online bookseller but it also has lots of useful information about forthcoming books, reviews, book group discussions, literary prizes and UK literary events.
Headliners
Headliners is a charity producing news and comment by children of interest to everyone - for publication in national and regional newspapers and magazines.
Contact: Children's Express, Exmouth House, 3-11 Pine Street, London EC1R OJH. Tel: 020 7833 2577. Fax: 020 7278 7722. Website: www.headliners.org
International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY)
IBBY is an international network that acts as a forum for people working in all areas connected with children's books and reading. It also coordinates International Children's Book Day on 2 April, to mark Hans Christian Andersen's birth. Website: www.ibby.org.
Contact: British Section of IBBY, PO Box 20875, London SE22 9WQ. Tel: 020 8299 1641. Email: anne@lazim.demon.co.uk. Membership costs £25 (individuals) and £70 (corporate).
www.londonlibrary.co.uk
London Library is the largest independent lending library in the world. Its collection now exceeds one million books and periodical volumes. Membership is open to all. Contact: 14 St James's Square, London SW1Y 4LG. Tel: 020 7930 7705.
www.meettheauthor.co.uk
Meet the Author is a website with hundreds of video clips online of authors talking about their books, some of which are new, some bestsellers. Contributors include a wide range of fiction and non-fiction authors for both adults and children.
www.reader-development.com/mindseye
The Mind's Eye is a partnership project between the Public Libraries Group of the Library Association, Opening the Book, Book Communications, Books for Students, Cawdor Books, the University of Central England and the Scottish Library and Information Council. Primarily a reader development promotion for public libraries, based around narrative non-fiction, the project is developing support materials for libraries in five pilot authorities. However, this website also has information and recommendations for anyone interested in non-fiction reading, as well as libraries interested in developing similar promotions.
www.mybookyourbook.co.uk
Mybookyourbook can best be described as an on-line co-operative library. Each member contributes a small number of book titles to the central database with these books remaining on their own shelf until requested by another member.
www.nald.org
The National Association of Literature Development is the professional body for all involved in developing writers, readers and literature audiences. It enables literature professionals to talk to each other through their newsletter, website and events.
Contact: National Association for Literature Development, PO Box 140, Ilkley LS29 6RH. Tel: 01943 872546.
www.nawe.co.uk
National Association of Writers in Education (NAWE) represents and supports writers, teachers and all those involved in the development of creative writing in education. It holds a directory of writers who work in schools, colleges and communities that is available to search on the NAWE website.
Contact: NAWE, PO Box 1, Sheriff Hutton, York YO60 7YU. Tel: 01653 618429.
www.openingthebook.com
Opening the Book focuses on reader development. It produces a range of resources and has designed a programme of courses to help library professionals reach out to new readers.
Contact: Opening the Book, 181 Carleton Road, Pontefract, West Yorkshire WF8 3NH. Tel: 01977 602188 / 602988. Email: info@openingthebook.com.
www.phf.org.uk
Paul Hamlyn Foundation is a grant-making charity focused on issues of inequality and disadvantage, particularly in relation to young people and through the arts, learning and education. It runs the Reading and Libraries Challenge Fund, which was launched in 2003 to support innovative national or local projects which aim to improve access to books, reading and library services.
Contact: 18 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AA. Tel: 020 7227 3500. Email: information@phf.org.uk.
www.englishpen.org/readersandwriters
PEN is a membership association for writers and other professionals working in the literary sector. The Readers and Writers programme brings writers into contact with readers of all ages and backgrounds, in order to widen access to literary culture.
http://readers.penguin.co.uk
Penguin Reading Groups Guide has some useful general information on setting up a reading group. It also holds a directory of reading groups around the UK and offers resources such as reviews and suggested (Penguin) books.
www.readinggroups.peoplesnetwork.gov.uk
On the People's Network register of reading groups you can search for a library-based reading group online via the People's Network. Over 900 reading groups are listed in 100 library authorities.
www.readathon.org
Readathon is a national sponsored reading scheme often used by schools as part of National Children's Book Week, although it operates all year round. Children undertake to read books or take part in other literacy-based activities of their choice in return for pledges of money from family and friends. All money raised is donated to the Roald Dahl Foundation and Sargent Cancer Care for Children.
Contact: Readathon, The Parsonage, St Mary's, Chalford, Stroud, GL6 8QB. Tel: 0870 24 011 24. Email: reading@readathon.org.
www.rif.org.uk
Reading Is Fundamental was founded in the United States in 1966 and has grown into a national grass-roots network of more than 400,000 volunteers at 20,000 sites. The National Literacy Trust runs RIF in the UK. For information on RIF in the US see www.rif.org.
www.readitswapit.co.uk
Read it, swap it is a free online book-swapping service.
www.thereader.co.uk
The Reader exists to promote the good in literature, with the belief that reading can be serious and fun, life-enhancing and creative for everyone. The website has The Reader magazine, promotes high quality live literature events, and details information on outreach and educational projects.
www.theirreadingfutures.org.uk
Their Reading Futures is a website on library reading promotions for children which was developed through consultation training days involving ASCEL and Youth Libraries Group Champions, as part of a project managed by The Reading Agency (see above). It covers definitions of reader development; the chance to practice core skills needed to create good readers services for children; outcomes based planning using a self audit framework; and advocacy strategies and materials.
www.roalddahlfoundation.org
Roald Dahl Foundation, a charity created in 1991, uses royalties from the Roald Dahl Estate to fund projects for children, with three areas of concern: haematology, neurology and literacy.
Contact: Roald Dahl Foundation, 92 High Street, Great Missenden, Bucks HP16 0AN. Tel: 01494 890465. See also www.roalddahl.com
www.scottishbooktrust.com
Scottish Book Trust works to promote a love of reading and books within Scotland, through project work and publications. Its Writers in Scotland Scheme subsidises about 2000 author events each year and is widely used in libraries.
Contact: Scottish Book Trust, Sandeman House, Trunks Close, 55 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SR. Tel: 0131 524 0160.
www.storycode.co.uk
StoryCode is an online recommendation service for fiction, in which users "code" stories according to factors such as reading effort, how universal the themes are, and whether the story is driven by the plot or the characters. Visitors can search for a story they've enjoyed and then find others with a similar rating.
www.readingagency.org.uk
The Reading Agency supports libraries in innovative ways of working by developing new partnerships, pilot models and research initiatives. It was formed in July 2002 through the merger of three library and reader development organisations: Well Worth Reading, LaunchPad and The Reading Partnership. It covers reading development activity for both adults and children and is funded by the Arts Council, Southern and South East Arts, and the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP). Please note: training is now available for school as well as public librarians.
Contact: The Reading Agency, PO Box 96, St Albans, Herts AL1 3WP. Tel: 0871 750 1200. Email: info@readingagency.org.uk.
www.scottishbooktrust.com
Scottish Book Trust works to promote a love of reading and books within Scotland.
Contact: Scottish Book Trust, Sandeman House, Trunks Close, 55 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SR. Tel: 0131 524 0160. Email: info@scottishbooktrust.com.
www.readtogether.co.uk
The Scottish Executive's Home Reading Initiative (HRI) is coordinated by consultants Fraser Ross Associates and aims to encourage more parents to read with their children. The HRI also incorporates its own version of the National Reading Campaign's Reading Champions scheme.
www.sevenstories.org.uk.
Seven Stories - the Centre for Children's Books is a one-stop-shop for all those interested in children's books. It includes a visitors centre, gallery and workshop space.
Contact: Seven Stories, 30 Lime Street, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2PQ. Tel: 0845 271 0777. Email: info@sevenstories.org.uk.
www.thirstbooks.com
Thirst Books is a free book club, supported by Arts Council England. Join thirst by visiting their website where you can also order books and register for a free mailing list to be informed about future offers.
Well Worth Reading
See The Reading Agency above.
www.cllc.org.uk
Welsh Books Council works to promote books and reading, in both the English and Welsh languages, in Wales.
Contact: Welsh Books Council, Castell Brychan, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion SY23 2JB. Tel: 01970 624151.
www.whatareyouuptotonight.com
What are you up to tonight? is a site for readers aged 16 to 24, developed by Opening the Book and the East Midlands Reader and Library Development project.
www.word-of-mouth.org.uk
Word of Mouth is managed by reader development agency Opening the Book and provides a facility that allows readers to share their reading experiences and recommend titles to others via an extensive database. Visitors are also invited to complete an online questionnaire about their own reading style so that they can then search for titles recommended by someone with a similar reading profile - or a completely opposing one, for those looking for something different.
www.writeaway.org.uk
Write Away is a team of children's book specialists, including teachers, librarians, writers and academics, who run a website that provides news, reviews and resources. The site also has information on the Live Writing Online creative writing course run by university lecturers (and Write Away team members). The workshops are open to all 12 to 16-year-olds living in Essex who enjoy writing.
www.booktrust.org.uk/writingtogether/
Writing Together aims to ensure that, during their life at school, every child encounters opportunities to work with professional writers who inspire them creatively. Hosted by Booktrust, it is a unique partnership of book and literature charities and official bodies.
www.whosreadit.com
Whosreadit.com allows you to keep track of every book you have ever read and access a community to discuss books with other readers and read and write book reviews.
www.youngwriters.co.uk
Young Writers has existed since 1992. It produces two magazines: Scribbler! for seven to 11-year-olds and Wordsmith for 12 to 16-year-olds and runs a variety of writing competitions.
www.the-zone.org.uk
The Zone is Lincolnshire Libraries site for readers and writers, offering a combination of local information and general advice.
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