LRC Loyalty card and reading

Do you enjoy reading or want to read more?

The LRC is running a loyalty card scheme again this year to encourage as many students as possible to borrow and read 6 books throughout the year.

Reading can be enjoyable, relaxing and sometimes challenging. However, did you know that reading fiction particularly helps you improve your English. You start to absorb new words and ways of writing which can't easily be taught. There is also research that reading helps improve your empathy and social skills as well as your creativity.

Loyalty Card poster
Copyright Peterborough Regional College

To take part, come in to the LRC, speak to a member of staff at the desk and sign up. As you read a book (which has to be fiction or a biography), we stamp your card. After 3 books you can collect a free tote bag and once you've read 6 you are entered into a prize draw and invited to a special Loyalty Card event towards the end of the academic year.

Tips for getting better at reading.

Towards the end of last week, the BBC Ideas website released a short video called "How to get seriously good at reading" https://www.bbc.com/ideas/videos/how-to-get-seriously-good-at-reading/p07n3xmv . Even if you love reading, there are some interesting facts in the video that you may not know.

Loyalty Card Celebration Event

Loyalty Card Event

On the 6th June the LRC held it's annual loyalty card presentation event. This year we teamed up with the Wellbeing team and youth centre and held a joint presentation along with prizes for the yellow book competition (photos, poems etc. created by students about mental health).

We invited Alexander Gordon Smith (a writer of teenage horror novels including the Escape from Furnace series and The Fury) to speak to the students at the event. He spoke about how he started writing books and also how writing had helped him at difficult and stressful times in his life. The students enjoyed the event (which included afternoon tea) and many spoke to him afterwards.

A hamper of reading goodies was presented to the winner of the Loyalty card scheme this year and runner-ups received signed copies of Alexander Gordon Smith's latest book. We also held a free raffle giving everyone there a chance to win a copy too.

Alexander Gordon Smith talking at the Loyalty Card event
Photo: Peterborough Regional College

Why not take a look at Alexander Gordon Smith's website and if you like scary things try one of his novels. We have several titles in the LRC which you can borrow.

Reading and Wellbeing

Reading and Wellbeing

The Literacy Trust has released the findings of their annual literacy survey which explores the link between children's reading and their wellbeing. There seems to be evidence that children and young people with a positive attitude to reading have a higher sense of well being.

You can read the report here.

LRC Loyalty Card

In order to promote reading and literacy, the LRC is running it's annual Loyalty card scheme again this year. Students who read 6 books are entered in to a draw for prizes worth £50. Students wishing to take part can register in the LRC at the main desk. Every time you return a fiction book, your loyalty card will be stamped. A presentation event will be held in the spring next year.

The LRC are also partnering with the English department who are running their Get Lit campaign promoting reading in the classroom. Books read for this can count towards your loyalty card tally too.

Loyalty Card Event

Loyalty Card Event

On Wednesday, the LRC hosted it's annual Loyalty Card event. 

Throughout the year, students and staff have been borrowing and reading fiction and collecting a stamp each time they have finished a book. Participants were entered in to a draw for a chance to win £50 of Waterstones vouchers or a copy of Darren O'Sullivan's new book.

We were thrilled to have local author Darren O'Sullivan with us for the event. Darren used to be a Performing Arts student at Peterborough Regional College and he has just had his first book Our Little Secret published in print. It is a thriller set in Peterborough.

Author and ex-student Darren O-Sullivan with LRC Manager Louise Auckland

Darren held a question and answer session with the students who attended and presented certificates and prizes to the 3 students whose names he pulled out of the draw. Congratulations go to Leon particularly who won the Waterstones vouchers!

Student feedback after the event included:

 "I loved the feedback and advice from a real author on how to write stories".

"I really enjoyed taking part in the reading challenge and encouraging the students"

"I really enjoyed the event".

Coming Soon - LRC Loyalty Card event

Loyalty Card Event

The Learning Resource Centre is holding a celebration event for those who have taken part in the loyalty card scheme.

The loyalty card scheme is a yearly initiative, run by the LRC, to encourage students and staff to read more fiction. The student or staff member obtains a loyalty card and gets their card stamped for every fiction book they have read. Once the student or staff member has read 6 books, they are then entered into a prize draw.

This year’s celebration event will be on the 18th April, between 3:30 and 4:30pm in the LRC. Students and staff can sign up and hand in completed cards until the 16th April.

The LRC now has a confirmed speaker for its loyalty card event.

Darren O’Sullivan is a local author and ex-PRC student. Darren has enjoyed success with his novel, ‘Our Little Secret’ and his second psychological thriller, ‘Close Your Eyes’ is out later this year. One lucky winner will receive a Waterstones voucher and three runners up will receive copies of Darren’s novel, ‘Our Little Secret’.

Darren O'Sullivan