NEARLY 10,000 children have signed up to the Summer Reading Challenge in Wiltshire Council-run libraries.

The figures act as further evidence that Wiltshire's libraries are bucking the national trend of reduced library services.

No libraries have been closed in Wiltshire and three new ones have opened in recent years (Pewsey, Trowbridge and Corsham).

An army of volunteers help to run Wiltshire's libraries, meaning the county is in the top six authorities for use of volunteers, and this is climbing.

Jonathon Seed, cabinet member for libraries, said: “The volunteers who give their precious time to support our libraries are a big part of the reason they are so successful.

“We know the value people put on their libraries, and we will continue to do everything we can to protect them for the communities they serve. We are continuing to innovate to achieve this, and continuing to involve communities in the heart of everything we do.”

Organised nationally by Wiltshire libraries working with the Reading Agency charity, the Summer Reading Challenge has teamed up this year with Guinness World Records to establish a record breakers theme.

Collecting stickers as they go, young readers will discover the weird, wonderful and wacky records from around the world in six different categories: Cool Tech, Way to Go!, The Big Stuff, Animal Magic, People Power and Action Adventure.

Children aged four to 11 can still sign up for the scheme at their local Wiltshire Council-run library, and any who rise to the challenge and read six books during the summer holidays, they will receive free goodies and rewards plus a certificate and medal if they complete it.

It is free, and finishes on Saturday, September 5. There are large print challenge materials available for visually impaired children, thanks to the support of the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) National Library Service.

When families can’t get to the library, there is still the Record Breakers website, with much for children to discover. They can keep a record of their challenge there too.

Children can also recommend books and decide what to read next using the book sorter at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk.

Running alongside the challenge, libraries will also be promoting Fantastical Feats, a south west England libraries project, and includes a special game inspired by record breaking feats and a story where children must save a town from a book troll.

The game was designed in liaison with children across the south west and can be played at stepintoabook.org.uk.

A number of libraries will also be running accompanying children’s activities throughout the summer. For further information on Wiltshire libraries and the summer reading challenge people can contact their local library or go to wiltshire.gov.uk/whatson.