I am a secondary school librarian in Basingstoke and I work hard to develop a love of reading with our students. I am passionate about books and what you can find in them, and how they can make you feel. Being good at reading comes from practice, and practice is made easy when you love what’s written on the page.

By working with The BookTrust charity, we will bring a choice of about 12 carefully selected books to each new student. They hear about the authors, and their books and then complete an order form to select the book they would like. Ownership. You can’t beat it. We’re not telling them what to read, or trying to force them to read books we think they should like. They choose. The chatter is excited as they attempt to make a choice. I answer the question of cost MANY times, telling them “yes, it’s free”...”no, you get to keep it”...until they’re finally convinced there is no catch.

In the past, conversations have returned over the months, to reflect on these excited discussions, never mind the actual day the books arrive! We compare in later weeks, what we all thought of the stories. We debate. We judge. They borrow their second choices from the library.

But the important thing for me, is that the flame has been lit. The conversation has started. The habit grows. Not every time. But for many more than might have without the scheme.

So please give anything you can spare. The programme costs just £3 per book. I budget for one extra set to go in the School library for those who have been ‘lit’ this come back, and borrow.

Follow me on Twitter @WardyWardster and see pictures of our campaign, and ultimately our success.