National Year of Reading 1998 – 1999 and 2008
The first National Year of Reading (NYR) was launched in September 1998, to support the introduction of the National Literacy Strategy in schools. It aimed to involve the whole of society in a wide-ranging campaign to encourage and promote more reading, and was delivered by the National Literacy Trust on behalf of the then Department for Education and Employment.
The level of activity far exceeded expectations. The national campaign provided the impetus for organisations and community groups to put reading at the top of the agenda, and the Government was able to provide financial support totalling £800,000 for 86 local projects. The impact of the year was fully monitored and reported and generated a lot of interest internationally.
Executive summary of Building a Nation of Readers: a review of the National Year of Reading (1998-1999)
A second National Year of Reading was delivered in 2008, by a consortium of partners led by the National Literacy Trust and The Reading Agency, on behalf of the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The national campaign aimed to help create a reading culture in England and, specifically, to engage those people who need help with reading or think reading's not for them. It addressed key audiences through media campaigns to demonstrate the benefits of reading; showing that it improves life opportunities and that it is also enjoyable. Key impacts included 2 million new library members through a national membership campaign; 250,000 picture books distributed via The Sun; 30,000 Quick Reads distributed via News of the World; 23,000 more boys taking part in The Summer Reading Challenge compared with the previous year; nearly 6,000 reading events registered on the NYR website; and 150 NYR coordinators (one in each upper tier local authority) across England, leading partnerships and delivering activities for their communities.
The momentum generated by the 2008 National Year of Reading is being maintained by our Words for Life campaign, to support parents and families in enjoying reading. Visit www.wordsforlife.org.uk.
