WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has backed a summer holiday campaign encouraging schoolchildren to read more by visiting a local library.
The MP took two local young people to the event in Westminster to support the summer reading challenge which aims to help young people to discover a lifetime passion for reading.
The two work experience students, Alex Collins and Olivia Flanagan, joined Dame Harriett at the event held by the Reading Agency, which is promoting the literacy drive.
Free summer activities and events are being run in libraries nationally.
Last year’s Challenge helped create more than 100,000 new library memberships and facilitated the borrowing of 13.4million books during the summer months.
There are libraries in the four major towns – Malvern, Pershore, Tenbury and Upton-upon-Severn – in West Worcestershire and they play an important role offering parents and their local children the opportunity to access reading materials throughout the year.
Dame Harriett said: “I have always taken great joy from reading myself as well as with my children and grandchildren and I support any initiative that inspires young people to pick up a book.
“Our fantastic local libraries have books for all ages and tastes, free of charge and I urge parents to take full advantage over the holidays.”
