If you have been working with teens for a number of years it is entirely possible that some of them by now have reached adulthood with a love of books and reading ingrained in their being; it is likely that some of them may have left the teen group still unsure about reading as a pleasurable pastime. If you do know some of the latter you may still be able to reach them with the Quick Reads collection; and not just previous members, you can also invite the parents or guardians of current teen reading group members if they are reluctant readers and run a special combined group and extend the reach of the library in reducing illiteracy and reluctant reading.
1 in 6 adults of working age in the UK find reading difficult and may never pick up a book.
People’s reasons for not reading are varied but are often based in fear. Some people say they find books scary and intimidating, thinking they are ‘not for them’ or that books are difficult or boring.
Quick Reads sets out to challenge these beliefs and to show that books and reading can be for everyone. Each year we commission big name authors to write short books that are specifically designed to be easy to read. They are the same as mainstream books in every respect but are simply shorter and easier to tackle for adults who are less confident in their reading skills. The books are then sold through major retailers, online booksellers and are loaned from libraries.
Key findings of The National Research and Development Centre for Adult Literacy and Numeracy (NRDC) and YouGov report commissioned by Quick Reads:
•12m adults very rarely read (less than twice a year)
•One in ten never read a book
•A quarter of all adults say they don’t have time to read
•53% said reading made them more relaxed
•61% said reading helps them switch off from day to day life
•40% said they read to learn new subjects
Visit the Quick Reads website for more information: http://www.quickreads.org.uk/
It has downloadable resources, ideas on how to use the books, information about the 2014 titles and more!
