Latest news with #TheReadingAgency
BBC News
01-08-2025
- General
- BBC News
Summer Reading Challenge 2025: Are you taking part?
Do you enjoy reading for fun? Like a challenge? Well, charity The Reading Agency has launched its big Summer Reading year the charity launches a big summer challenge, where children set a goal to read as many books as they'd like over the holidays, to encourage children to feel more confident, and discover a love for by the charity has shown that in the UK, one in four children cannot read well by the age of part of the challenge last year, more than 13 million books were read and issued through libraries, and 70% of children who took part said they now feel more confident reading. How can people get involved? The Summer Reading Challenge is aimed at children aged four to 11-years-old, and kids can take part online, or by visiting a local the library, children can sign-up for free, set a reading goal for how many books they'd like to read, choose some books, and earn rewards like stickers or a medal for completing a reading libraries are also hosting special events as part of the Summer Reading you can't get to your local library, kids can join in online, by signing-up on the official website, setting a goal and get tips for accessing books for free at home. As you read you'll unlock digital rewards, including a printable certificate for completing your goals. Kids can also leave book reviews for other children to help them find a book they might you taking part in the Summer Reading Challenge?What books do you love to read? Let us know in the comments below!
Western Telegraph
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Western Telegraph
Golden tickets hidden in Pembrokeshire libraries books
Pembrokeshire Libraries have teamed up with Dr Beynon's Bug Farm in St Davids to add an exciting twist to the Summer Reading Challenge. As part of the Story Garden theme, 32 golden tickets have been hidden in books across the county's libraries. Children who find these tickets will win free entry to the Bug Farm, a popular destination that combines science, nature, and farming. The Summer Reading Challenge, a national initiative run by The Reading Agency, encourages children to read at least six library books over the summer holidays. The aim is to keep children reading during the break, supporting literacy and helping them develop a love for books. This year, those who sign up early will also receive an extra prize. Pembrokeshire Libraries are pulling out all the stops to make the Story Garden theme special for children. To start the fun, local children's author Kerry Curson will be hosting special events at Fishguard, Haverfordwest, and Narberth libraries to launch the challenge and inspire young readers. Throughout the summer, libraries in Fishguard, Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Pembroke Dock, and Tenby will be hosting weekly story and craft sessions related to the theme. These free events aim to keep children engaged, entertained, and learning all summer long. Reading during the holidays is not only fun but also helps children maintain and improve their reading skills, boosts confidence, and encourages creative thinking. Parents and children can follow Pembrokeshire Libraries on social media for updates, event listings, and clues about the golden tickets. The Summer Reading Challenge is more than just about reading; it's a chance for children to explore new worlds, characters, and adventures. So, visit your local library, get involved in the Summer Reading Challenge, and see if your next book holds the key to a fun day out at Dr Beynon's Bug Farm.
The Guardian
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
UK audiobook revenue up by almost a third last year
Whether it's plugging in to Benedict Cumberbatch reading Austen while doing the washing up or listening to Meryl Streep narrate Nora Ephron's Heartburn on the way to work, the UK is increasingly getting into audiobooks. Audiobook revenue generated by UK publishers rose by 31% between 2023 and 2024, with income from audiobooks reaching a record £268m last year, according to the Publishers Association (PA), the body representing UK publishers. 'We're seeing a real demand for audiobooks given the unique way they fit into our increasingly busy lives,' said Debbie Hicks, creative director at The Reading Agency charity. 'Audiobooks make reading more accessible, whether that's for people with dyslexia or visual impairments, or simply those who struggle to find time to sit down with a traditional book.' Many listeners value 'the ability to multitask' that comes with audiobooks, added Hicks. 'You can listen to audiobooks while commuting, exercising or doing chores. For young adults especially, audiobooks are a natural fit with how they live and read.' Audiobooks have 'soared in popularity over the past 10 years', said Dan Conway, chief executive at the PA. 'The same is true of podcasts, so clearly audio content in general is hugely on the rise.' 'Publishers have invested more and more in producing high-quality content that grabs attention,' he added. 'Some of the most successful audiobooks of the past few years have offered listeners the opportunity to hear world-renowned figures deliver their stories themselves. We have also seen full cast productions, high-profile casting and innovative recording techniques.' Tina, who runs the book-themed Instagram account @tbretc and listened to more than 100 audiobooks last year, said that her life is 'busier than ever', so audiobooks allow her to 'enjoy myself while doing the many life tasks that come with being a working mom of two'. Audiobook production has also 'come a long way, and sometimes listening to a story brings an even better experience than reading a book with your eyes', she said. The PA also reported fiction revenue rising 18% between 2023 and 2024, surpassing £1bn for the first time. 'Fiction growth has been driven by fantasy and romance,' said Conway. 'The desire for escapism in these tumultuous times may be a factor in the recent success of these genres.' While revenue for consumer nonfiction – which excludes academic and education books – saw a 4% decrease, this fall brought the category in line with fiction, with both bringing in £1.1bn each in 2024. Revenue from children's books remained static at £413m. Digital revenue – encompassing audiobooks and ebooks – rose 17% between 2023 and 2024 in the consumer market, to £566m. 'It's fantastic to see fiction, audiobooks and digital thrived in 2024,' added Conway. 'Clearly publishers have been giving book lovers what they want with engaging content in a range of formats.' The digital revenue figure includes earnings through subscriptions such as Spotify's Premium, which allows 15 hours of audiobook listening per month. Spotify saw a 35% rise in listening hours between January 2024 and January 2025. 'Whether it's during a commute, at the gym, or taking a walk, audiobooks open up storytelling in those in-between moments', said Duncan Bruce, director of audiobook partnerships and licensing. 'We've also removed the friction for people to try an audiobook for the first time, placing it in the centre of one of the world's most used apps. We've seen strong crossover from music and podcasts, with fans discovering audiobooks through artists like Blink-182, Britney Spears and Bob Dylan, and podcasters including Louis Theroux and Steven Bartlett, proving audiobooks have the power to spark a whole new love of reading.' Audiobooks are 'helping to engage people who don't usually consider themselves readers,' agreed The Reading Agency's Hicks. They are 'a gateway into the joy of reading for many who might otherwise feel excluded'. Like Spotify, Audible has seen 'substantial increases in membership and listening hours, including a 22% rise in our kids' content offerings, as well as huge uptick in engagement and appetite across genres like romance and LitRPG [literary role-playing games]', said its chief content officer Rachel Ghiazza. 'Advances in production have made the audiobook experience increasingly immersive and accessible,' she added. 'Though substantial progress has been made, the audiobook sector remains an emerging and rapidly evolving space.' The PA also reported print revenue experiencing a 2% rise in the consumer market across 2023 and 2024, to £2bn. 'While digital has been growing faster it's important to remember that print is still by far the preferred medium in the consumer market, accounting for 78% of revenue,' it said. The export market for consumer, academic and education books saw a 3% increase to £4.5bn last year – this constituted 63% of the publishing industry's overall revenue.
BreakingNews.ie
27-04-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Could swapping scrolling for reading at bedtime affect your sleep?
Distraction is now one of the leading obstacles to reading for pleasure, according to a new report from The Reading Agency. The State of the Nation in Adult Reading 2025 report reveals that nearly half (46%) of UK adults struggle to concentrate on reading due to distractions – a number that climbs to 55% among those aged between 16-24 and 35-44, and 52% of 25-34 year-olds. Advertisement The report also highlights a decline in regular reading habits, with only 53% of UK adults now saying they read regularly, compared to 58% in 2015. When asked why it's harder to focus, the most commonly cited reasons were a lack of free time (24%), changes in mental or physical health (11%), major life events (10%) and increased screen time or shifting digital habits (10%). Most of us are guilty of scrolling through our phones before bed instead of reading, but is this late-night screen time affecting our sleep? And could swapping it for a book make a difference? We asked the experts to find out… Advertisement What impact can scrolling on our phones before bed have on our sleep? Endless scrolling through social media or news feeds can keep our minds buzzing long after we've turned off the lights (Alamy/PA) 'Use of any screen late at night means your body continues to be alert, with the light exposure pushing back the natural timing of your body clock, making it harder to fall asleep,' explains Dr Katharina Lederle, sleep and circadian rhythm specialist at The London General Practice . Light exposure can cause less deep sleep, adds Lederle, meaning even if you do get a good amount of sleep, you may not feel well-rested. 'By looking at your phone or laptop, you are effectively putting a mini-sun in front of your eyes,' explains Lederle. 'This will affect the secretion of melatonin, which is typically released a few hours before you go to sleep as the sun sets. 'Evening light exposure, and particularly exposure to light from your phone, will suppress melatonin secretion, and your body clock needs melatonin to tell the rest of the body it is night-time. So, without it, there is no such message, meaning the body continues to be alert.' Advertisement What impacts can reading a book before bed have on our sleep? Reading fiction is thought to be more calming (Alamy/PA) 'Reading provides a gentle cognitive focus that can help reduce stress,' says Dr Rachael Molitor , chartered psychologist and lecturer at Coventry University. 'Reading slowly and calmly before bed activates our parasympathetic nervous system, the rest and digest system, helping to reduce heart rate and blood pressure and leading to a successful sleep onset.' However, fiction is generally considered more relaxing to read than non-fiction – which could have an impact on our sleep quality. 'Fiction, especially familiar or light fiction, tends to be better for sleep because it gently distracts the mind without activating critical thinking or emotional intensity,' explains Dr Lalitaa Suglani , psychologist and author of High Functioning Anxiety. 'Non-fiction may be more stimulating, especially if it involves problem-solving, self-improvement, or emotionally charged material.' And physical books may help us sleep better than e-books. Advertisement Engaging with a story can help calm the mind, reduce stress, and create a relaxing environment conducive to sleep (Alamy/PA) 'Print books are ideal because they lack the backlight that disrupts melatonin,' adds Suglani. 'E-readers with blue-light filters or 'night mode' are better than phones, but still not as calming as physical books. 'Ultimately, the goal is low stimulation and emotional safety – books that don't provoke stress, excitement, or analysis.' What makes scrolling more stimulating and addictive than reading? Notifications and updates provide instant feedback (Alamy/PA) 'Scrolling taps into the dopaminergic feedback loop, a cycle of anticipation, reward, and novelty-seeking that can become addictive,' explains Suglani. 'Social media, news feeds, or even texting right before sleep can activate the brain's threat system or pleasure centers, keeping the body in a state of vigilance.' On the other hand, reading has natural stopping points. Advertisement 'It doesn't offer the same dopamine highs, which is exactly why it's more calming for the nervous system,' says Suglani. 'Reading encourages sustained attention, something our overstimulated brains often crave but rarely experience through screens.' What tips would you give someone trying to transition from screens to books at night? View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Reading Agency (@readingagency) 'Try placing your phone on charge or on a unit away from your bed area, leaving it until the morning,' recommends Molitor. 'Additionally to this, having a screen curfew such as 30 minutes before bedtime would help support the habit shift by looking at all last notifications and then placing the phone away until the morning. 'With do not disturb mode on most phones, emergency contacts may get through but others can then wait until the morning allowing for a successful sleep duration.' Also, make sure the book you plan to read is accessible. 'Keeping the book visible and accessible near your bedside will allow a habit-stacking approach and producing a more successful behavioural change to support reading over scrolling,' says Molitor.
RTÉ News
23-04-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Could swapping your phone for a good read help you sleep?
Distraction is now one of the leading obstacles to reading for pleasure, according to a new report from The Reading Agency. The State of the Nation in Adult Reading 2025 report reveals that nearly half (46 per cent) of adults asked - who were in the UK - struggle to concentrate on reading due to distractions – a number that climbs to 55 per cent among those aged between 16-24 and 35-44, and 52 per cent of 25-34 year-olds. The report also highlights a decline in regular reading habits, with only 53 per cent of UK adults now saying they read regularly, compared to 58 per cent in 2015. When asked why it's harder to focus, the most commonly cited reasons were a lack of free time (24 per cent), changes in mental or physical health (11 per cent), major life events (10 per cent) and increased screen time or shifting digital habits (10 per cent). Most of us are guilty of scrolling through our phones before bed instead of reading, but is this late-night screen time affecting our sleep? And could swapping it for a book make a difference? We asked the experts to find out… What impact can scrolling on our phones before bed have on our sleep? "Use of any screen late at night means your body continues to be alert, with the light exposure pushing back the natural timing of your body clock, making it harder to fall asleep," explains Dr Katharina Lederle, sleep and circadian rhythm specialist at The London General Practice. Light exposure can cause less deep sleep, adds Lederle, meaning even if you do get a good amount of sleep, you may not feel well-rested. "By looking at your phone or laptop, you are effectively putting a mini-sun in front of your eyes," explains Lederle. "This will affect the secretion of melatonin, which is typically released a few hours before you go to sleep as the sun sets. "Evening light exposure, and particularly exposure to light from your phone, will suppress melatonin secretion, and your body clock needs melatonin to tell the rest of the body it is night-time. So, without it, there is no such message, meaning the body continues to be alert." What impacts can reading a book before bed have on our sleep? "Reading provides a gentle cognitive focus that can help reduce stress," says Dr Rachael Molitor, chartered psychologist and lecturer at Coventry University. "Reading slowly and calmly before bed activates our parasympathetic nervous system, the rest and digest system, helping to reduce heart rate and blood pressure and leading to a successful sleep onset." However, fiction is generally considered more relaxing to read than non-fiction – which could have an impact on our sleep quality. "Fiction, especially familiar or light fiction, tends to be better for sleep because it gently distracts the mind without activating critical thinking or emotional intensity," explains Dr Lalitaa Suglani, psychologist and author of High Functioning Anxiety. "Non-fiction may be more stimulating, especially if it involves problem-solving, self-improvement, or emotionally charged material." And physical books may help us sleep better than e-books. "Print books are ideal because they lack the backlight that disrupts melatonin," adds Suglani. "E-readers with blue-light filters or 'night mode' are better than phones, but still not as calming as physical books. "Ultimately, the goal is low stimulation and emotional safety – books that don't provoke stress, excitement, or analysis." What makes scrolling more stimulating and addictive than reading? "Scrolling taps into the dopaminergic feedback loop, a cycle of anticipation, reward, and novelty-seeking that can become addictive," explains Suglani. "Social media, news feeds, or even texting right before sleep can activate the brain's threat system or pleasure centers, keeping the body in a state of vigilance." On the other hand, reading has natural stopping points. "It doesn't offer the same dopamine highs, which is exactly why it's more calming for the nervous system," says Suglani. "Reading encourages sustained attention, something our overstimulated brains often crave but rarely experience through screens." What tips would you give someone trying to transition from screens to books at night? "Try placing your phone on charge or on a unit away from your bed area, leaving it until the morning," recommends Molitor. "Additionally to this, having a screen curfew such as 30 minutes before bedtime would help support the habit shift by looking at all last notifications and then placing the phone away until the morning. "With do not disturb mode on most phones, emergency contacts may get through but others can then wait until the morning allowing for a successful sleep duration." Also, make sure the book you plan to read is accessible. "Keeping the book visible and accessible near your bedside will allow a habit-stacking approach and producing a more successful behavioural change to support reading over scrolling," says Molitor.
