Looking for a book club or a reading group? Find out about shared reading!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN OUR TEAM? WE ARE LOOKING FOR A NEW CHAIR AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS!
SEE BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS ON HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN SHARING THE POWER AND JOY OF READING TOGETHER ACROSS LEICESTERSHIRE
What is Leicestershire Shared Reading?
Leicestershire Shared Reading (LSR)is a voluntary organisation, set up in 2016, to work in partnership with Leicestershire County Council's library service to support a thriving network of ‘Make Friends, with a Book’ shared reading groups.​ The groups, led by volunteer Reader Leaders, meet weekly either via Zoom or in person at public libraries around Leicestershire and are open to anyone to drop in and sit for a while, listening to stories and poems being read aloud. Find out more about what happens in a group by clicking here.
Some of the Wigston Library group members. Photo by Bill Newsinger
Call for New Chair and Committee Members ​​​
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There is more than one way to become involved with LSR and make a difference in the community.​
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Our trained Volunteer Reader Leaders run our groups and so are an essential part of our work. As well as undergoing training they have a regular commitment to run a group, usually once every two or three weeks.
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The successful running of our organisation, however, involves a lot of behind-the-scenes work, which is carried out by our committee - our support team - led by our Chairperson. You don't need to be a Reader Leader to be a support team member! If you would like to become part of our successful organisation with a less regular time commitment, one of these roles could be for you.
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Our priority is to recruit a new Chairperson, who will be able to lead us into the next phase of our development, growing and sharing the power and joy of reading together. If this rewarding role sounds appealing, you can find full details of the role here.
At the same time we would like to strengthen our existing support team with more committee members. We are looking for people who are team players, who understand the value of shared reading, and who will take an active part in the management of LSR. We are especially keen to recruit new members who have financial, IT, marketing, social media or administrative experience, but a willingness to get involved and get things done is paramount. We are keen to involve people from all backgrounds and perspectives. Find out more about what is involved here.
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If either of these opportunities interest you, why not visit one of our groups to experience Shared Reading in action, and speak to one of our Reader Leaders. We'd also be happy to chat about the roles available on the phone or on Zoom - send us an email to start the ball rolling: leicssharedreading@gmail.com.
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New Group at Blaby Library
We are delighted to announce that the popular 'Make Friends, with a Book' group at Blaby Library is now up and running again, for the first time since before the pandemic.
Come and enjoy listening to stories and poems, and join in the chat if you feel like it - there is no pressure! The group meets in the library every Friday from 11.30am to 1.00pm, and we would love to see you there.
"What I love about shared reading groups is that everyone is welcome and everyone is valued, reading sessions are accessible to all and are non-judgmental. The story or poem is always kept at the centre of the discussion, which enables the group to get the most out of it."
Helena, volunteer group leader
See inside a group!
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Clicking on this link will take you to a video of one of our Zoom groups in action.
What people say about shared reading
Over the years we have received lots of lovely feedback showing the value of the shared reading experience to our group members. Here are some of their comments:
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"I am so glad I saw the poster in the library. Joining this group is the best thing I have done for me for years. [It] has made the world of difference to me, I just love it. Thank you everyone."
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“I feel I can express my opinions without feeling that I would be judged. I enjoy the positive responses I receive from my group. It makes me feel I belong to something.”​
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“I look forward to meeting other members and chatting. I feel we have come to know each other quite well over the years.”
"The reading groups are a different kind of medicine and it's through them that I've found a way back to life"
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“For a while you can forget what’s going on in the world and [have] company.”
"Our experienced and sensitive Reader Leaders ensure that sessions are both inclusive and non-threatening. Through experience, they are able to guide the discussion or to allow it to take its own course. This approach leads to all members feeling valued and, in a safe environment, free, not to just talk about the book/poem, but their experiences and feelings."
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Want to join us?
If you'd like to visit a group and experience shared reading for yourself, find out about when and where our groups meet here - and if it's a library-based group, there is no need to book. It's free, there's no homework or preparation to do, and no obligation to attend every week. If you'd like to join one of our Zoom-based groups, you'll need a device and a stable internet connection. Contact us at the email address below and we will send you a link.
We look forward to seeing you!