Are you ready for a reading challenge?

Are you ready for a reading challenge for 2010?

The aim is that over 12 months you will have 12 different reading experiences - and share them with others.

You can write about this on the readers advisory wiki.

You can check out some reading ideas with these other reading challenges.

Science fiction special

The latest issue of New Scientist has a series of articles around the theme Sci-fi special : the fiction of now. You might want to direct some of your readers to it.

The library of shadows

I know this blog is not usually used for reading suggestions, but I thought I would make an exception to this practice.

Try The library of shadows by Mikkel Birkegaard. This first novel is a thriller with some parts of it reminiscent of The shadow of the wind. It will probably appeal to people who read for story and language. There are some evocative descriptions of libraries and reading. The novel shows how subversive libraries and reading can be (as well as how dangerous). Plus is is fun to discover why 'passive reading is no joke'.

Reading groups

Have you thought of using a tool like Daily Lit for reading groups? Daily Lit is a (mostly) free service where you receive a chunk of reading each day by e-mail. Most titles on this service can be read for free.

The number of installments vary according to the length of the book. For example Great expectations by Charles Dickens has 229 installments, The Count of Monte Christo by Alexandre Dumas has 579 installments, Pride and prejudice by Jane Austen has 146 installments and Flipping the Funnel: Non-Profit Edition by Seth Godin has 12 installments.

You can read the whole work by daily e-mail chunks, or decide part way through you will stop and borrow the book from your library. It could be a good way to introduce people to new authors.

There are also some ways you could use this idea with programming for example with encouraging a weekly reading discussion (or a once a month discussion) about the title. Or the title read by e-mail could balance the main reading group discussion. I would be interested to hear (in the comments) if any of you have tried this method of engagement.

Summer reading program

The ALIA summer reading wiki is available. There is a page set up for ideas for adult summer reading programs. Please add your ideas for adult summer reading programs about how to read on the wild side.

Reading in public

Have a look at this blog about reading in public. I know we discussed this idea a while ago, but it might be time to explore it again. It would be great to have a synchronised state/national reading in public event.

23 March 2010

The next readers advisory seminar (free for New South Wales public library staff) will be 23 March 2010.

Planning has already started and it promises to be another exciting and innovative seminar.

You can find information from previous seminars on the wiki.