The Henry Bloom Noble Library has launched the 2015 Summer Reading Challenge.

Scottish Widows Juan Clarke and Pat Betteridge and borough librarian Jan Macartney with Denitsa Petrova, 10, James Drummond, nine and Molly Hinds, seven

Sponsored for the eighth successive year by Scottish Widows, the Summer Reading Challenge is a partnership between The Reading Agency and public libraries that aims to build confidence and independent reading, while preventing the dip in children’s literacy levels during the long break from school.

Every year there is a new theme and this year the Summer Reading Challenge has teamed up with Guinness World Records - the global authority in record-breaking achievements and publisher of the annual Guinness World Records™ book to create Record Breakers.

Children sign up at the library and receive a special poster.  As they borrow and read library books over the summer, children collect stickers to complete their poster and discover fascinating facts about record breakers as they go.

Children can use the special website recordbreakers.org.uk to create a profile, chat about books and get help on what to read next, via the digital Book Sorter which already offers more than 450,000 peer-to-peer children’s book recommendations in child-friendly categories.

There’s also a free downloadable app (designed by SOLUS UK) which recognises key Record Breakers illustrations and triggers video clips and games.

Sue Wilkinson, CEO of The Reading Agency said:'At The Reading Agency we believe that everything changes when we read. The Summer Reading Challenge, developed and delivered in partnership with librarians across the UK, is designed to make reading fun and improves children’s reading range, motivation and confidence. Taking part can be the highlight of the summer for many families and help them rediscover their local library, a free, inclusive space full of activities and opportunities.'

Children can sign up at the library and will be given the collector’s poster on their first visit and, as in previous years, each following visit they’ll receive a new sticker to add to the poster as well as other Record Breaker themed goodies. Plus once they complete the challenge which consists of reading six books during the summer holidays, they will be invited to an awards presentation with the Mayor of Douglas, Councillor Sara Hackman.

Follow the Summer Reading Challenge on Facebook.