How We Got Here

The 2008 National Year of Reading (NYR) was a national campaign to create a reading culture in England and specifically to engage those people who need the most support with reading or think reading’s not for them.

The NYR reached key audiences in large numbers through media campaigns to demonstrate the benefits of reading; developed a local authority infrastructure to promote and coordinate reading activity on the ground; and created Wikireadia, a mechanism to share good practice between reading professionals.

Reading for Life builds on the networks the achievements, networks and approaches championed by the NYR.

Key facts and figures from the 2008 National Year of Reading:

2 million new library members
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
Over 1,250 articles on Wikireadia, the good practice guide to reading
Nearly 6,000 reading events registered on the NYR website
150 NYR coordinators (one in each upper tier local authority) across England leading partnerships and delivering activities for their communities
Over 400 million opportunities to view NYR messages in regional or national press
The Year of Reading winning the HarperCollins Award for Expanding the Retail Market