Scottish Book Trust, Read Around Books
| Organisation |
Scottish Book Trust |
| Project |
Read Around Books, a readership development initiative designed to increase public awareness of books by Scottish authors |
| Artform |
Literature |
| Location |
Scotland |
| Application type |
Full project |
| Date |
2001/03 |
| Status |
Completed |
| Grant |
£25,000 |
| Total project cost |
£39,500 |
Scottish Book Trust (SBT) is an independent literature charity that exists to promote literature in all its forms as central to the cultural life of Scotland. It provides information on books, writers and reading; operates readership development initiatives; provides financial support and creative and organisational advice for live literature events; provides training to writers and educationalists; and acts as a co-ordinating collaborative umbrella organisation for literature initiatives and opportunities in Scotland.
It also manages the Live Literature Scotland fund, granted by the Scottish Arts Council, which supports registered writers and storytellers by subsidising their visits to libraries, schools, writers groups, prisons, and community and literary groups throughout Scotland. It also runs BRAW, the network for the Scottish children’s book.
 |
 |
Read Around Books, a series of 12 specially-commissioned sampler-style books designed to encourage reading groups to focus on Scottish writing in their meetings. The primary target market is the growing number of reading groups in Scotland and beyond, but the project is also designed to reach the ‘general’ reader and Higher and Higher Still students. Each focuses on one title by a Scottish writer or a writer living and working in Scotland. |
In recent years, the SBT has received a growing number of requests from reading group co-ordinators for information and guidance about appropriate books. Rather than offer them an ad hoc service as part of its ongoing Book Information Service, the SBT developed the idea for this project which would support this need and, at the same time, provide an opportunity to highlight books by Scottish authors. Research indicates that reading groups tend to stick to tried and tested ‘hits’.
- Due largely to management changes at the SBT, the project has changed somewhat during the course of its development. While still designed to support reading groups, the focus has broadened to encompass the general reader and Higher and Higher Still students.
- A panel of bookworld people were gathered together to select 30 titles for the series and from the longlist 12 books were produced focusing on titles by Meaghan Delahunt, Michel Faber, Jonathan Falla, Janice Galloway, Andrew Greig, Anne MacLeod, Maggie O’Farrell, Suhayl Saadi, Ali Smith, Iain Crichton Smith, Muriel Spark and Alexander Trocchi. SBT hopes eventually to be able to cover all the titles chosen.
- Each book contains a 5,000-word extract from the title, an enthusiast’s view of the book, an author interview or biographical details, and suggestions for starting points for discussion and similar reads. The books have a nominal cover price of £1.50 but the bulk are intended for use as promotional giveaways. When ordering, interested parties were encouraged to request the 12 book set.
- Read Around Books was launched on World Book Day (6 March 2003) with displays and posters in 532 Scottish libraries, a £2 off promotion on the books featured through Waterstone’s, advertising and editorial in The Scotsman, and promotional features on the websites of all the participating publishers. There was also a high profile event, Are We What We Read?, at the Hub in Edinburgh on 8 March featuring Janice Galloway, Alasdair Gray, Meaghan Delahunt and Christopher Brookmyre, and a giveaway free sampler in that day’s Scotsman (100,000 copies).
- Freelance literary publicist Jan Rutherford was appointed to manage the project.
- The project has provided reading groups and the general reader with an accessible introduction to some of the best of Scottish writing, ranging from Iain Crichton Smith’s Thoughts of Murdo and Muriel Spark’s The Comforters to Janice Galloway’s Clara and Ali Smith’s Hotel World.
- The impact of the project on the readership of Scottish fiction is in the process of being evaluated but the initial very positive reaction suggests that it will prove to be an important readership development tool.
|
|
 |
Tessa MacGregor
Marketing Manager
Scottish Book Trust
Sandeman House
Trunks Close
55 High Street
Edinburgh EH1 1SR
Tel: 0131 524 0160
Fax: 0131 524 0161
E-mail: tessa.macgregor@scottishbooktrust.com
Web: www.scottishbooktrust.com |