Press Release from 2000

Literacy Ideas

Forget the Literacy Hour, dwarf runes are where it's at!

The Tolkien Society is helping to encourage young people to read, through a series of initiatives. Pat Reynolds, the Tolkien Society's volunteer Education Officer said In poll after poll, Tolkien is voted Number 1 we want children to have the magical experience of reading The Hobbit and Tolkien's other works. Reading Tolkien sparks enthusiasm and creativity I want to help teachers and librarians to use that to encourage wider reading into medieval literature and mythology, in all the creative arts, and, surprisingly, even in teaching maths and the sciences.

The Tolkien Society has reduced subscription rates for school libraries to just 20. The Society has a low-cost young members group, Entings (2 per year for UK members), which publishes a regular newsletter.

Chris Crawshaw, the Tolkien Society's Chair said With the new film of the Lord of the Rings due for release next year, we know that children who have never read Tolkien will be wanting to read him that can only be a good thing!.

School libraries which are not yet members of the Tolkien Society can use the resources for teachers, librarians and other facilitators on the Society's website www.tolkiensociety.org/ed/ (note this is an updated link from that of 2000). The website includes ideas for Tolkien-based activities for libraries, as well as information for suitable for readers of Tolkien who would like to know more.

Schools, libraries and other institutions can borrow a travelling exhibition suitable for KS3 upwards. The exhibition is a series of laminated sheets which can be attached to boards using velcro type fasteners. The only cost is postage. If the venue has secure exhibition space, it may be possible to supplement the boards with 3-d material.