Publishers and retailers debate ‘Just Read'
11.06.09 Caroline Horn in The Bookseller

Representatives of the Publisher's Association, Society of Authors, Bookseller's Association, School Library Services, as well as figures from schools and reading charities were among those who defied yesterday's (10th June) tube strike to attend an unprecented meeting to discuss how they could work together to encourage more children to read. The initiative was sparked by Michael Rosen's BBC4 programme, ‘Just Read', in which he suggested that every school should have a reading strategy.
While a number of different organisations are already developing reading initiatives with schools, those at the meeting discussed how that work could be championed by a single campaign supported by marketing and lobbying. A combined campaign would encourage every school to have a reading strategy.

Celia Rees, chair of the Children's Writers and Illustrators Group of the SoA, said: "I don't think there has been a meeting like this before. We are all from different backgrounds but we want to see a strong reading culture established across schools and nurseries. This is not just about our industry but our entire cultural tradition, that's how important it is."

Issues currently having a negative impact on school's reading include the government's ‘Building Schools for the Future' campaign, in which many new secondary schools are being rebuilt without libraries, and the lack of government backing for School Library Services which has eroded the service and forced many regional SLS's to close.

A number of possible initiatives were suggested and will be discussed further, said Elaine McQuade, chair of the Children's Book Group of the PA.