Published: 01 Dec 2016
The fifth chapter of Book Week Scotland has come to a close after a whirlwind week of nearly 500 events and outreach activities, with all 32 Scottish library services taking part and special appearances from a plethora of authors, including Lisa McInerney, Jenni Fagan, Jill Mansell, Simon Scarrow, Isabel Greenberg, Tony Robinson, Will Self, Clare Mackintosh and Jodi Picoult.
Nearly 150 partner organisations worked with Scottish Book Trust to ensure that there were events, activities and bookgifting taking place all over Scotland.
Over half a million books were given away during the week, with every P1 child in Scotland receiving three free picture books in their Bookbug P1 family bag, and free bags of books, writing materials and counting games gifted to all Primary 2 and Primary 3 pupils. The bags, produced in partnership with Education Scotland and Scottish Government as part of Read, Write, Count, provide fun materials for children to share their learning at home. In addition, 150,000 free copies of a special short story and poem collection, Secrets and Confessions, were distributed across the country.
Many people engaged with the celebrations online, with over 110,000 visitors to bookweekscotland.com throughout the week - an increase of 9% on traffic from last year – 24,000 engagements on twitter and 8,600 engagements on Facebook. The online Book Generator helped 2,500 people to uncover the perfect book match for themselves or the ideal present for a friend, and 4,300 people used the Reading Dare generator to set themselves a daredevil bookish challenge to be undertaken during the week.
With over 5,200 votes cast from 60 different countries, the results of the national poll for the favourite Scottish book to screen adaptation were announced, with Sony Pictures’ adaptation of Outlander named as the runaway winner.
Older children also got into the Book Week Scotland spirit, with 8,000 pupils tuning in to watch award-winning children’s author and Ruby Redfort creator Lauren Childin a special free Authors Live webcast.
Book Week Scotland 2017 will take place from 27 November to 3 December 2017, with a central theme of Nourish.
Marc Lambert, CEO of Scottish Book Trust, said: “We’re delighted that in its fifth year, Book Week Scotland has continued to be such a success, reaching new audiences and firing up the imaginations of so many people across the country. Most importantly, we have reminded people of the sheer joy that can be found between the pages of a book.”
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, External Affairs and Tourism, Fiona Hyslop said: “Book Week Scotland is over for another year after a highly successful week with almost 500 events taking place across the country. I’d like to thank all of those who’ve taken part to make the celebration so successful. Scottish Book Trust is doing some outstanding work to make reading more accessible to those who find it challenging, and to ensure everyone has opportunities to enjoy reading. Over half a million books were given away during Book Week and as an avid reader I would encourage everyone to find the time to pick up a book and enjoy the pleasure of reading.”
Leonie Bell, Director, Arts and Engagement, Creative Scotland, said: “With over 500 events and outreach activities and a giveaway of over half a million books, Book Week Scotland has been a resounding success. Scottish Book Trust and its many partners do extraordinary work in delivering a wide ranging, fun, accessible program which celebrates Scotland’s relationship with books and reading. From Scotland’s favorite Scottish book to screen adaptation, the online Book Generator gadget and Reading Dares pledged across the country the fifth year of Book Week Scotland has truly captured the imaginations of people across the country.”
Pamela Tulloch, Chief Executive, Scottish Libraries and Information Council (SLIC) said: “Book Week Scotland is an excellent opportunity to celebrate books and reading, and libraries offer everyone access to share in the pleasure and imagination that reading provides. We’re delighted to draw yet another successful Book Week Scotland to a close, but we hope that people will continue to visit their local library throughout the year and enjoy the range of services and activities available.”
Initiated by the Scottish Government and supported, along with a Reading Champions programme in libraries, by £200,000 from Creative Scotland, Book Week Scotland is planned and delivered by Scottish Book Trust.
Book Week Scotland events in public libraries and Further Education College libraries is funded by the Scottish Library and Information Council.
Please direct all author interview requests to helen.croney@scottishbooktrust.com
or call 07751 69 58 54 / 0131 524 0175
Scottish Book Trust is a national charity changing lives through reading and writing. Scottish Book Trust believes that books and reading have the power to change lives. As a national charity, we inspire and support the people of Scotland to read and write for pleasure.
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us at www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland and @creativescots
The Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) is the independent advisory body to the Scottish Government on library and information services. It leads the implementation of Ambition and Opportunity: A strategy for public libraries in Scotland 2015–2020, develops innovative projects like Film Education in Libraries and provides support for libraries in the form of advocacy, consultation and research. It administers Scottish Government funding for public libraries (Public Library Improvement Fund) and funding for the wider library and information sector (Innovation and Development Fund). It supports public libraries to participate in Book Week Scotland by providing Scottish Book Trust with event funding for every public library service and Further Education College Libraries.
The Bookbug P1 Family Bag was produced by Scottish Book Trust in conjunction with Education Scotland and the Scottish Government as part of Read, Write, Count – a new literacy and numeracy campaign aimed at children in Primary 1 to 3.
The Read, Write, Count bags for Primary 2 and 3 pupils were produced by Scottish Book Trust in partnership with Education Scotland and Scottish Government. Read, Write, Count is a new literacy and numeracy campaign aimed at parents of children in primary 1, 2 and 3 and includes bag gifting, social marketing and an outreach programme.
