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 We
will be adding to this list as the campaign develops but here
are answers to a few key questions that have been raised.
RaW is targeted at adults aged 25-54 who are emergent readers.
They can read and write quite competently but they are not
particularly experienced or confident readers. 12.1 million
adults in Britain - and equal number of men and women - fit
this category. Fewer than one in ten is from an ethnic minority
background, but ESOL (English for speakers of other languages)
learners will benefit from the resources and the RaW phone
line will direct them to appropriate provision. Similarly,
the phone line will signpost opportunities for dyslexic learners.
The audience is more likely to come from lower socio-economic
backgrounds but there is significant representation at professional/mangement
level. Although the BBC has specified a target audience for
its campaign, this need not prevent libraries from embracing
a wider audience in their activities associated with RaW.
On-air opportunities for crediting libraries' involvement
in RaW have been limited because of the nature of the campaign.
However, library activity has been included in editorial coverage
of RaW at national, regional and local level. BBC media training
was offered to all library authorities in June and July 2006
and libraries are encouraged to contact their local BBC radio
stations with news and stories about events. They can also
seek advice from their BBC Regional Learning Project Manager
- details are given at the back of the Library Welcome Pack.
In recognition of libraries' commitment to the campaign, BBC
Learning is endeavouring to promote their role wherever possible
during Phase 2. There is a searchable database at www.bbc.co.uk/raw
to enable website users to find their nearest RaW library.
And library staff are being featured as winners and runners-up
for the RaW Star of the Month award on the RaW website. Please
see www.bbc.co.uk/raw/campaignpartners/rawstars/ to nominate a member of your staff.
RaW centres include organisations ranging from colleges to
pubs and community centres. Enter your postcode into the searchable
database on the front page of www.bbc.co.uk/raw
and you will find those in your local area.
The main focus has been on awareness-raising. RaW has been
featured on air at regional and local level where there have
been RaW-related stories to cover. Meanwhile the RaW phone
line and RaW Online have offered a key entry point for people
interested in RaW. RaW quizzes have taken place in RaW centres
around the country and several libraries have used these as
a way to attract new people.
Phase 2 of RaW had three key areas of focus:
- reading for pleasure kickstarted by the launch of the
Quick Reads titles in March and May 2006
- sport in the run-up to and during the World Cup in
June 2006 and other summer sporting activities
- from autumn 2006, a focus on reaching adults through
their families leading up to the launch of the family
focus at the start of 2007.
RaW activities to accompany these themes included RaW
Reads, RaW Stories and RaW Swaps. There is information
about these approaches in the Library Welcome Pack received
by each library authority and in other supporting resources
at www.bbc.co.uk/raw/.
The Vital Link has developed a core
book list and more extended book lists which build on
the First Choice and Got kids? Get reading! collections with
further recommended titles chosen by library staff around
the country. These include fiction and non-fiction from mainstream
stock selected according to the Vital Link criteria and also
titles specially published for emergent readers by New Island,
Sandstone Press and Barrington Stoke and the
Quick Reads initiative.
The Vital Link has also launched First
Choice Books, a new interactive database of titles selected
for emergent readers which should prove invaluable for libraries
planning displays and promotions for RaW.
All main library suppliers are aware of the First Choice,
Got kids? Get reading! and Quick Reads book lists mentioned
above. All library authorities wanting more information should
contact their regular suppliers or genevieve.clarke@readingagency.org.uk
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