The development of this course was sponsored by crime writer Ann Cleeves, who is passionate about the power of reading for pleasure to support our well-being. It is designed to help library staff who want to take on the role of directly engaging with individual readers and groups facing life’s challenges. It will give you the confidence to talk positively with people about their reading lives, including those who don’t read books and those who haven’t read in a long time.

The course is structured into two modules, each ending with a practical task. In Module One, you will explore the role reading can play in well-being and use practical approaches to engage readers in conversations about their reading. You will learn how to listen to different needs and offer meaningful reading connections. You will practise talking about reading with both those who consider themselves readers and those who don’t.

In Module Two, you will research and build the resources you need, exploring different formats to create a flexible capsule collection. This collection will help you promote reading for well-being in your library and provide ideas and experience for your future work in this role.

Your Mentor will provide detailed feedback and support on your tasks. Their role is to use their experience to challenge your thinking and help you adapt the course content to your workplace and role.