World Book Night 2018: Programme Review and Evaluation · • Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James is...
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World Book Night 2018: Programme Review and Evaluation Contents 1. Introduction 2. Programme Overview 3. Participating Organisations and Events 4. Research and Press Release 5. Social Media Coverage 6. Evaluation Methodology 7. Impact of World Book Night - Spotlight Focus on: Mental Health 8. World Book Night in the Future 1. Introduction World Book Night is an annual celebration of reading and books that takes place on 23 April. In 2018, the programme’s eighth year and its fifth at The Reading Agency, we saw 42,160 books donated by publishers given away in prisons, homeless centres, hospitals, colleges, public libraries and other organisations with the aim of more closely reaching and engaging people who don’t regularly read. This year, there was research undertaken to look at ‘book-block’ in the British public. A press release was produced that had significant media coverage. This report summarises World Book Night activities and gives an overview of its impact in participating organisations. 2. Programme Overview Important facts and headlines for World Book Night 2018 include: • 42,160 books were donated by publishers for World Book Night 2018, comprised of donations of 23 titles from a range of genres including crime, health and wellbeing, literary fiction and comedy. 3 of the chosen titles were aimed at Young Adults. Additionally, one poetry collection was chosen, as well as one Quick Reads title • Publishers donated between 1000 and 2000 copies of each title • Books were chosen through careful discussions with publishers to establish which titles are best suited to reach key audiences • A range of male and female writers were chosen, and 5 of the authors come from a BAME background • 4 of the titles address mental health needs
Transcript of World Book Night 2018: Programme Review and Evaluation · • Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James is...
WorldBookNight2018:ProgrammeReviewandEvaluation
Contents 1. Introduction 2. ProgrammeOverview 3. ParticipatingOrganisationsandEvents4. ResearchandPressRelease5. SocialMediaCoverage6. EvaluationMethodology7. ImpactofWorldBookNight
- SpotlightFocuson:MentalHealth8. WorldBookNightintheFuture
1. Introduction WorldBookNightisanannualcelebrationofreadingandbooksthattakesplaceon23April.In2018,theprogramme’seighthyearanditsfifthatTheReadingAgency,wesaw42,160booksdonatedbypublishersgivenawayinprisons,homelesscentres,hospitals,colleges,publiclibrariesandotherorganisationswiththeaimofmorecloselyreachingandengagingpeoplewhodon’tregularlyread.Thisyear,therewasresearchundertakentolookat‘book-block’intheBritishpublic.Apressreleasewasproducedthathadsignificantmediacoverage.
ThisreportsummarisesWorldBookNightactivitiesandgivesanoverviewofitsimpactinparticipatingorganisations.
2. ProgrammeOverview ImportantfactsandheadlinesforWorldBookNight2018include:
• 42,160booksweredonatedbypublishersforWorldBookNight2018,comprisedofdonationsof23titlesfromarangeofgenresincludingcrime,healthandwellbeing,literaryfictionandcomedy.3ofthechosentitleswereaimedatYoungAdults.Additionally,onepoetrycollectionwaschosen,aswellasoneQuickReadstitle
• Publishersdonatedbetween1000and2000copiesofeachtitle• Bookswerechosenthroughcarefuldiscussionswithpublisherstoestablishwhichtitlesare
bestsuitedtoreachkeyaudiences• Arangeofmaleandfemalewriterswerechosen,and5oftheauthorscomefromaBAME
background• 4ofthetitlesaddressmentalhealthneeds
• Booksweregivenawayinatotalof356organisations,includingcolleges,prisons,publiclibraries,homelessshelters,hospitalsamongothers
• Eventstookplaceupanddownthecountry,includingquizzes,bookswaps,authorreadingsandtalks
• Asurveywascommissionedtoresearch‘book-block’intheUKandfindouthowthepublicviewreadingandbookstheydon’tfinish.Britswereencouragedto‘quit-lit’–tostopreadingbooksthey’renotenjoyingandfindsomethingelse
3. ParticipatingOrganisationsandEvents BooksweredistributedtothefollowingorganisationtypesacrosstheUK:
• 1Carehome • 4Familylearningprojects• 5Youthcentres/projects(16+)• 8Socialandsupportinghousingprojects • 10Homelesscentresorhostels • 19Literacyandlearningsupport
organisations • 35Hospitalsorhealthcentres • 50Prisonsand/orYoungOffenders
Institutions • 64Colleges • 69Publiclibraries • 91Other;e.g.artsorganisationsorcharities
Therewasatotalof356organisations.Thesewerechosenfromover1,000applications,astheybestdemonstratedhowtheywouldreachpeoplewhodonotregularlyread.Ofthe356successfulorganisations,109hadnotreceivedWBNbooksbefore,and223wereholdinganeventspecificallytodistributetheirbooks.Organisationsreceivedboxesofeither80or160copiesofasingletitletogivetotheirusersalongwithsupportingresourcesandguidance.
Arangeofeventswereheld,includingbookswaps,authortalks,poetryreadingsandquizzes.Manyorganisationsprovidedfreefoodanddrinksattheirevents,andfoundcreativewaystodrawpeoplein.
4. ResearchandPressRelease Asurveywascommissionedasking2,000membersoftheBritishpublictheirthoughtsonreading,withtheresultsusedforapressreleasedentitled:Researchreveals35millionBritsareparalysedby‘book-block.’
Keyfindingsofthesurvey:
• Morethanhalfofus(54%)spendupto3monthsstrugglingthroughabookbeforedecidingtogiveuponit
• Nearlyaquarter(22%)ofpeopleintheUKthinkyoushouldnevergiveuponabook • FiftyShadesofGreybyE.L.JamesisthebookmostBritssaytheyhavestartedbutnever
finished
TheReadingAgencyrespondedtothesefindingsbyencouragingBritsto‘quit-lit’–toditchtheburdensomebooksthey’renotenjoyingandtrysomethingnewinstead.WorldBookNightisthechancetofindabookthatworksforyou.
BetweenthepressreleaseandWBN,therewere200piecesofmediacoverage:
• 29piecesofnationalcoverage • 167piecesofregionalcoverage • 3piecesofconsumercoverage • 1pieceoftradecoverage
PresscoveragefromoursuccessfulconsumercampaignwithourPRagency,Stand,includedpiecesinTheTelegraph,SkyNews,TheGuardian,TheTimesandvariousBBCradioshows.
5. SocialMediaCoverage(December2017-April2018)ThetwomostactivemonthsonsocialmediawereDecember2017(whenthebooklistwasannounced)andApril2018.
• InApril2018,therewere18tweetsontheWorldBookNightTwitterprofileand236ktweetimpressions.Theprofilehad10.6kprofilevisitsand1,117mentions.Themiddlemonths(January–March2018)hadbetween1and6tweetsandunder2,000profilevisitspermonth
• ThetoptweetwasonWorldBookNightitself,with145,445impressions,2,280engagements,339likesand211retweets
ExcerptfromITVNews,23April2018
TheDailyTelegraph,23April2018
• TheReadingAgencyTwitterprofiletweetedon23April.Theposthad424engagements,121likesand92retweets• TherewereInstagrampostson17December(60likes)and23April(83likes,3comments)• OnepostontheWorldBookNightFacebookprofilereached5,861people,with53likesand19share• OnepostonTheReadingAgencyFacebookreached6,918people,with71likesand40shares
6. EvaluationMethodologyInMay2018,TheReadingAgencycirculatedanonlinesurveytothe356organisationsthattookpartinWorldBookNight2018.Thesurveyranuntil29June2018andreceived151responses,a43%responserate.ThesurveyaskedthemtoassesstheimpactofWorldBookNightintheirorganisation.
Anyonewhoreceivedabookwasalsoencouraged,viasocialmediaanddirectlythroughtheseorganisations,tocompleteashortsurveyabouttheimpactofWorldBookNightonthem,whichreceived47responses.
Throughoutthefollowingsectionpercentagesareroundedtothenearestwholenumber.
7. ImpactofWorldBookNightOrganisationalGivers
• 97%ofparticipatingorganisationsratedtheirexperienceoftakingpartinWorldBookNightasExcellentorGood
• 95%thoughtthatthebooksdonatedbypublishersin2018wouldhelpencouragepeopletoreadmore
• 88%saidthateitherall,mostorsomeofthepeopletheygavetheirbookstowerepeoplewhodon’treadforpleasure
• 94%saidthatWorldBookNightwasreceivedwellorverywellintheirinstitution
ManyorganisationalgiverssharedpositivefeedbackwithusabouttakingpartinWorldBookNight:
• “Itwasnicetobeabletogivetheoffendersatangible‘gift’andithadapositiveimpact.Manyoffenderseitherdon’treadforpleasure,orareisolated,sowewereabletomeetbothneedswiththisinitiative”–DerbyshireCountyCouncil,gaveAtMyMother’sKnee
• “Thefactitwasapoetrybookenabledthemoregeneralsubjectpoemstobereadoutbythoseinterestedincreativewritingandpoetryandgenerateddiscussionaboutopportunityandthereflectionsofeverydaylifeandhowknowledgeandreadingopensupconnectivity”–NTWNHSTrust,gaveKith
• “Itwasbrilliant!ItwaslovelyasstudentswhoarenormallytooshytocomeintotheLearningResourceCentreactuallycameinandchattednotonlywithus,butotherstaffandstudentstoo.Itwasareallypositiveeventthathaspromotedtheloveofreadingwithourstudents-basicallylikehavingChristmasinthespring!”–AshfordCollege,gaveWhattheDogKnows
• “IlovetheethosofWorldBookNight–asakeenreadermyselfIcanreallyappreciatethebenefitsofgettinglostinabookandforwell-being.Ithinkreadingisapowerfultool.Iworkwithparentspromotingplayforparentsandchildrenfromfamilieswherethere
areadditionalstressesandpressures–canbementalhealthissues,poverty,socialisolation,andtheemphasisisusuallyondoingthingsthatarebenefittingthechildrenbutWorldBookNightisabouttheadultsbeingthefocus… Manyparentssaytheyhaven'treadforalongtimeandwonderhowtheywillfindtime.It'sgreattohearbackfromthemlaterthattheyhavebeenreadingandenjoyedthebook,Ihopetheygoontoreadotherbookstoo”–Home-StartMid&WestSuffolk,gaveMyEverything
• “Itwas,asalways,verywellreceived.Anythingthatpromotesthejoyofreadingandoffersafree,interestingbooktothistroubledcommunityisahighlypositiveevent.Povertyisamajorproblemwithinthiscommunitysoafreeeventrelievesthepressureanddoesn’tdiscriminateagainstanyone.Readingandaccesstobooksshouldbeavailabletoallandthiseventhelpedtoachievethatandhighlightthemagicandpowerfulbenefitsofreadingforpleasure;survivalduringdifficulttimesandself-development” – SeacombeLibrary,gaveTheDetective’sDaughter
• “Thebookswhereverypositivelyreceived.Onepatientcriedstating'I'veneverbeengivenabookbefore.'Adyslexicpatientreallyenjoyedthebookasitwasn'ttoolongandtheyfounditeasytoread3-4pagesadayandnotfeeltoodauntedbythebook.Mostofthepatientsweresurprisedthattheycouldkeepthebook:'It’sforme?Really?Icankeepit?'Itopeneduplotsofdiscussionsbetweendifferentagesandabilities.Thepatientsorganisedtheirownminibookclubononeofthewardstotalkaboutthebook.Staffwereinvolvedreadingthebooktopatientswhohaddifficultieswithconcentrationandreadingabilities.Staffandpatientshaveallbeeninterestedintheeventitselfandaskedforfurtherinformation.Theyhavealreadyaskedifwearetakingpartagainnextyear”–DerbyshireMentalHealthServicesFoundationTrust,gaveTheWomaninBlack
Recipients• 98%ofpeoplewhoreceivedabookagreedthattheywerepleasedtoreceivethebook• 89%saidthattheywereinterestedinthebook,with62%sayingthattheyhadenjoyedor
wereenjoyingreadingit• 57%saidthattheyhavereadmoresincereceivingthebookand64%havetalkedtoother
peopleaboutbooksmore• Only30%ofrespondentssaidthatbeforereceivingtheirWorldBookNightbooktheyread
everyday,with23%saidthattheyeitherneverreadorreadlessthanonceamonth
Aswellasgeneralcommentsaboutbeinghappyandgratefultoreceiveafreebook,wealsoreceivedpositivefeedbackfromrecipientsaboutreceivingthebooks:
• “Itwasatotalsurpriseandwhatadelight.Asithappened,Iwasvisitingmysister-in-lawinhospitalandshewasbeginningtogetconfused.Thebookgavemesomuchfoodforthoughtaboutwhatitfeltliketobethesuffererratherthanfamilysupport.Itcertainlygotmethinking”–WorldBookNight2018recipient,receivedElizabethIsMissing
• “Ifinditagreatschemeandhavefoundthetitlesrecommendedverygoodreads.TheschemehasintroducedmetoawidervarietyofauthorsIhadn'treadandthathasgivenmetheconfidencetorecommendmoreauthors”–WorldBookNight2018recipient,receivedSatellite
Spotlighton:MentalHealthThisyear,fouroftheWorldBookNighttitlesaddressedwithmentalhealthneeds:
• Open,GemmaCairney:Aguideforyoungpeoplequestioningwhatlife’sallaboutordealingwithhardtimes
• TheRecoveryLetters,JamesWithey&OliviaSagan(eds.):Ananthologyoflettersforpeoplelivingwithdepression,servingasacomfortingresourceforanyoneonthejourneytorecovery
• Mindfulness:APracticalGuidetoFindingPeaceinaFranticWorld,MarkWilliams&DannyPenman:Aprogrammeofsimple,shortmeditationsthatwilltransformthewayyouseetheworld
• ElizabethisMissing,EmmaHealey:Amysterynarratedbyanelderlywomanwithdementia
Thesebooksprovedtobeextremelysuccessfulandwellreceivedformanypeoplestrugglingwithmentalhealthproblems.
• “ItwasanicesurpriseandactuallyreallyrelevantinhelpingunderstanddementiamorewhenworkingfortheNHS,Iintendtopassthebookontocolleagues/familywhenI'mdone”–recipientofElizabethisMissing
• “Thisbookwasanappropriatechoiceforthoselivingwithsevereandenduringmentalhealthissues.Itcanhelpprovideanew‘livedexperience’perspectivetoourresidentsandnumbercommentedtometheimportanceofthis–itaddsanauthenticitytowhatisbeingwritten.Becauseitwasmadeupoflettersitmeantthatpeoplecoulddipinandoutastheywishdependingonhowtheyarefeeling.Italsohelpedstafftoincreaseinterestthroughdoingsharedreadingsatourcommunalhousemeetingsandencouragingresidentstosharetheirthoughtsontheletterswithoneanother”–OxfordshireMind,gaveTheRecoveryLetters
SurveyresponseforTheRecoveryLetters
• “Perfectlysuitedourusers(youngpeople).Itwasaccessible,hadpicturesanddealtappropriatelywithmentalhealthandawholehostofsubjectsandissuesthataffectyoungpeopleandteenagers.Itwaswritteninanon-judgementalway”–ThePrince’sTrust,gaveOpen
• “Manyoftherecipientsreceivedthebookswell,theyallhadsmilesontheirfacesatbeinggivenagiftforfree!Someoftheprisonerswerehappythatsomeonehadconsideredthemforabook.Oneparticularprisonerwasdonatedabookduetohispoormentalhealth,onreceivingithewashappyandthenafewweekslaterhecameintoexplaintostaffhowthankfulhewasforthebook.Hisattitudehaschanged,hewaslivelierandmorepositive.Itwasgreattosee!”–HMPRisley,gaveMindfulness
• “Weheldourmaineventinour'SafeHaven'whichisopeneverynightfrom6pmto11pmasanalternativetoA&Eforthoseinmentalhealthcrisis.Duringthenightwestartedworkononegiantrecoveryletter(onahugebitofpaper)andeveryonewhocameintocollecttheirbookaddedonesentencetotherecoveryletter.TheeventworkedreallywellasitwasadrawforpeopletocometotheSafeHavenandcheckitout(whichisespeciallyimportantfortheclientswithmentalhealthissueswhocamealongbecauseitwillbeeasierforthemtoseeksupportfromtheCentrewhentheyarenextincrisishavingbeenfamiliarisedtoitwhentheywererelativelywell).Itwentwellandwasabusyevening.WegaveawaytherestofthebooksoverthenextweektoclientswithdepressionthathadbeenreferredtousbytheirGP,MentalHealthTeamoranotheragency”–MaryFrancesTrust,gaveTheRecoveryLetters
• “Themindfulnessbookwasrelevanttoserviceuserswithmentalhealthissuesandprovidedausefultalkingpoint–wecombinedissuingthisbookwithquickreadtitlesthatwerealsodonatedaspartofadrivetoencouragereluctantreaders.Iwasalsoabletoissuebookstothoseattendingamindfulnesscourse–fantasticresourcetobackupteaching!”–St.George’sCrypt,gaveMindfulness
Responsesfromorganisationsthatgaveotherbooksalsomentionthatbeinggivenabookhadapositiveimpactonrecipients’mentalhealth,showingtheoverallbenefitsofreading.
• “WehaveweeklysessionsthatparentsattendbutfortheweekofWorldBookNightthesessionshaveafocusaroundthebooksandencouragingtalkingaboutreadingforwell-being,makingtimeforyourselfinthedayandhowhardthatcanbewiththedemandsofyoungchildren(allrecipientshadchildren0-4yearsold)”–Home-StartMid&WestSuffolk,gaveMyEverything
• “Thepatientsaftertheeventorganisedtheirownbookclubaroundthebook,anditopeneduplotsofdiscussionsbetweenpatients,staffandcarers.Lotsofstaffandcarerswentoutandgotthebooktoowhichgaveeveryonesomethingtotalkaboutandexploretogether.Makinganactualeventwasagreatwaytogoformeonthementalhealthunitasitalsoopenedupmanydiscussionsaboutusingreadingasadistractionandcopingtechnique,andgivingatreatwiththebookwentverywell”–DerbyshireMentalHealthServicesFoundationTrust,gaveTheWomeninBlack
8. WorldBookNight2019Forthesecondyear,thetargetedmodelofWorldBookNighthasprovedsuccessfulandwillcontinuein2019.WorldBookNightcontinuestohaveapositiveimpactontherecipientsofthebooksandthecommunitieswithinandaroundtheorganisationswhogivethemout.Theprogrammeisabletoachieveabroadreach,bothgeographicallyanddemographically,aswellasacrossgroupswithspecificneeds,suchasthoseinprison,isolatedolderpeople,thoseengagedinliteracylearningandwithhealthneeds.
Keyobjectivesforthefuturewillinclude:
• TobuildonoursuccessfulPRcampaignandfurtherbroadenthecelebrationstoincludemoregeneralreadingpromotions
• Toembedfundraisingactivityintotheprogramme,andpromotethisinourcommunications• Toencouragemoreengagementfrombusinesses,charities,pluslibraries,bookshopsand
othercommunityreadinghubs,unlockingaccesstoevenmorelocalactivists• Tofurtherextendourreachtothosewhoselifechanceswecanhelpbyinspiringthemto
becomereaders• Toencouragemoreengagementfromorganisationswhoarenotsuccessfulinreceiving
books• Tolookintopossibilitiesofprovidingorganisationswithmultipletitlestohandoutrather
thanalargenumberofonetitle
