đ° Adult Literacy News Summary
Chichester MP praises Children's BookFest literacy work
16-Jun-2026 - UK
An MP has praised a charityâs work promoting literacy after meeting with its trustees earlier this month. Jess Brown-Fuller MP met on Friday, June 5, with trustees of Chichester Children's BookFest to learn more about its efforts to inspire a love of reading among children across the area. Chichester Children's BookFest holds festivals at primary schools throughout Chichester, Bognor, Midhurst and nearby villages, giving every child the opportunity to meet a visiting author and receive a free, dedicated copy of their book.
Read moreOne in three middle-aged adults struggle with everyday health tasks
14-Jun-2026 - USA
Researchers at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine tested 942 adults between 35 and 64, all active patients at primary care clinics across Chicago. Leading the work was Abigail Vogeley, a research fellow and neuropsychology doctoral student at Feinberg. Her team found about one in three of these adults struggled with health literacy â the everyday ability to read and act on medical information, like decoding a prescription label or following up after a new diagnosis. Performance split sharply by literacy level. On medication dosing, the lowest-scoring group landed far below those with solid skills. Warning labels were another stumbling block. Questions about avoiding alcohol or direct sunlight while on a drug gave the lower-literacy group real trouble.
Read moreVisitor numbers increase on North Somerset mobile library
13-Jun-2026 - UK
An 84 per cent rise in visitor numbers has been recorded in the region thanks to 'Molly', the councilâs new electric library outreach vehicle, which has welcomed 2,244 visitors in its first four months of service. The figures reflect a growing demand for mobile library services, which reach readers directly in their neighbourhoods, schools and community centres. North Somerset Council says the new vehicle supports its goal of making library services more accessible, sustainable and responsive to community needs. Engagement is planned with organisations, including Read Easy in Pill and Oldmixon.
Read moreTop author warns of long-term âhurtâ caused by men not reading
11-Jun-2026 - UK
Scottish author Douglas Stuart has expressed his concern over the decline in reading among adults, suggesting that men have decided that âfiction isnât for themâ. Having initially been worried about literacy rates among working-class men, whom Stuart said had historically felt excluded by literature, he is now worried that men in general have turned away from reading fiction. âHow do you fix that?â he asked during an interview with the i Paper. âI donât know. If it goes on too long, weâll all feel the societal effects. Weâre going to end up with more people in power who lack empathy and that hurts all of us.â
Read morePublic 'forced out' as classes 'disrupt' the peace in Plymouth
11-Jun-2026 - UK
Claims have been made that two of Plymouth's main libraries are becoming teaching zones and the public are being âforced outâ. One regular library user said it was âcommon placeâ for lessons to be held in quiet public areas at Central Library and Plymstock Library. A Plymouth City Council spokesperson said: âOur libraries are designed as welcoming, inclusive community spaces where all members of the public are encouraged to use the facilities, whether to read, study, or access digital resources. We also accommodate âRead Easyâ sessions, where tutors support adults in learning to read and write. These sessions are also carried out at small tables within the public space."
Read moreBooker prize launches new Quick Read in effort to boost adult reading rates
09-Jun-2026 - UK
An initiative that aims to widen access to Booker prize-winning authors is set to launch this week, as research finds that more than a third of UK adults find it hard to read books through to the end. The Booker Prize Foundation is launching a short story collection entitled All Around the World, including works by the Booker prize winners Anne Enright, David Szalay and Booker prize nominee Nadifa Mohamed. The collection was curated by another former winner, Roddy Doyle. Data from the forthcoming State of the Nationâs Adult Reading report shows that 55% said they read less than they intend to, while 19% of 16- to 24-year-olds said they could not âeasily find themselves or their culture represented in booksâ.
Read moreThe World Education Championship (WEC)
06-Jun-2026 - USA
Every four years, the world comes together to celebrate the most-watched sporting event on the planet â the World Cup. As millions of fans cheer for their national teams, another global contest quietly takes place, one that carries lasting consequences for generations to come: The World Education Championship (WEC). In the WEC, nations face off based on their performance in three critical areas: School Life Expectancy; Government Investment in Education; Adult Literacy Rates.
Read moreVolunteers helping adults improve their reading skills
05-Jun-2026 - UK
A charity that helps adults improve their reading skills is marking its fifth year. Volunteers from Read Easy Southampton and Isle of Wight provide free confidential one-to-one coaching for adults who canât read or find it difficult to read and spell. Read Easy coach, Naomi, and her reader, Samantha, have been speaking to BBC Morning Live about how Read Easy makes such a huge difference to adults who want to improve their reading.
Read moreSponsored walk raises ÂŁ1.4k and counting for Woking literacy charity
04-Jun-2026 - UK
Volunteers have found a great Wey to raise money for a Woking charity that aims to improve the literacy of youngsters in the borough. Well-wishers have raised ÂŁ1,145 and counting for Letâs Read after taking part in a ten-mile sponsored walk south of Guildford. The charity was formed in 2008 out of the Sheerwater / Maybury Partnership which was created to address inequality within the community.
Read moreBritainâs reading revival may be failing to reach those most disconnected from books
03-Jun-2026 - UK
Plenty of adults think of themselves as readers. They remember the books they loved as children, the novels they stayed up late to finish, and the periods of life when reading felt natural and routine. Yet many have not finished a book in months, or even years. This matters because much of the current conversation around reading decline still treats the problem primarily as one of enthusiasm: how to persuade people that books are pleasurable, enriching or culturally valuable. But for some adults, the problem is rebuilding a relationship with reading that stalled years earlier. One finding appears repeatedly: struggling to engage with reading often precedes finding pleasure in reading. Before enjoyment comes interrupted concentration, prolonged effort, embarrassment, and memories of reading associated with judgment or failure.
Read more