Libraries Connected is working in partnership with Dr Nicola Currie, who is exploring the relationship between reading and wellbeing. The project has interviewed children, young people, adults and older adults from around the UK discussing the role that reading fiction plays in their lives, with a particular focus on how reading supports their wellbeing.

This is the first in a series of webinars and will explore the outcomes of this research on children's reading and wellbeing.

We will be joined by two speakers:

• Reading and Wellbeing: Qualitative insights from Children and Young People with Dr Nicola Currie, a Research Fellow on the Leverhulme Trust Reading and Wellbeing project, exploring readers’ perceptions of whether, and how, reading narrative fiction supports wellbeing, across the lifespan. Building on the outcomes of the Reading and Wellbeing Project, Nicola is currently carrying out an ESRC funded Knowledge Exchange Placement in collaboration with Libraries Connected and Scottish Book Trust. In this webinar we discuss findings from in-depth interviews with children and young people, as they share their experiences of how reading fiction supports their wellbeing, focusing on positive emotions, connection and personal growth. We also provide insights for those working with children and young people on how to use these findings to improve the quality and depth of children and young people’s reading experiences.

• Love to Read Libraries with Sarah McGeown, Director of the Literacy Lab, University of Edinburgh. Sarah's research focuses on understanding and improving children, young people and adults’ reading experiences and outcomes, often in collaboration with practice partners. She is internationally recognised as a leading expert in reading motivation and engagement, and in advocating for the importance of reading and books in children and young people’s lives. Sarah will discuss why research-informed approaches to enhance children’s reading motivation and engagement are essential, particularly given the known benefits of book reading and continued declines in children’s reading attitudes and volitional reading (National Literacy Trust, 2023). This talk focuses on Love to Read Libraries, an extension of the Love to Read project, to introduce six research informed principles (access, choice, time, connection, social and success) to library settings and professionals, to enhance the quality and quantity of children’s reading experiences.

Please note that this webinar will be recorded.

If you have any accessibility requirements, please email events@librariesconnected.org.uk.

Sign up now via Ticket Tailor.